Day 14

Leg 2 started for us in Birmingham airport with 2 bottles of champagne. The flights passed quickly with excited team banter about the adventure we are taking. Ian with his Ray Mears style explorer's hat and lofty 6'4” stature was an easy figure to find in the crowd so it was simple to stay together. The queue for arrivals in Moscow was where it started hitting home, surrounded by Russian voices we stood with silly grins knowing our expedition was underway. Unfortunately the shine was taken off when 3 of our number realised their luggage had gone AWOL. The team clubbed together immediately and reassured the 3 that we could either lend buy or borrow replacement gear.

We were met by Oleg, a Russian Land Rover enthusiast that Leg 1 had made contact with. He was holding a plaque from the Heritage Motor Centre Run. Instantly recognisable!! We played “spot the landrover” on the way into Moscow. Discoverys and Range Rovers were most common, sprinkled amid the Ladas and Skodas.

It was extremely good to meet up with Leg 1 and hear their exploits. Their photo slide show (on a small camera screen) was enough to whet our appetites for the trail ...