Nearly two weeks since leaving home and after the initial bureaucratic holdups we are well on our way.  The cars seem to be functioning well despite a few minor issues such as a loose alternator lead and an incorrectly fitted fan belt.  The two air conditioned cars have had trouble with hoses and fittings breaking but these were easily repaired by local tradesmen for a sum which would not get you a look in at home.  I suppose this is what you get for fitting modern equipment to old cars.

We did visit a spare parts supermarket (for want of a better word) in Tianjin looking for more fan belts etc and were amazed to find about 500 plus small businesses in the one area selling every part and or service you could imagine.  Everything in China is grand in scale and this was no exception

A great deal of time and effort has gone into preparing all the cars and we are all hopeful of making it through.  At our initial planning meetings it was agreed that if one car breaks down and it cannot be repaired then the vehicle is retired (?) and the drivers make their way to an airport and fly out.  There is an incentive to get through China as if you leave a car here you forfeit your $5000 bond which had to be paid up front.  I wonder how you would truck a broken down MGB from the middle of Uzbekistan to a seaport. 

You always look on the positive but as you drive along you listen carefully to every signal from the engine and hope all is well.  One thing in our favour is all the members of the trip are resourceful individuals and masters of improvisation.  We are swamped by locals whenever the  bonnet is lifted. I am led to believe there is a nine year crush rule in China so the chances of the locals seeing a 10 year old car is remote.  When they understand what we are doing, the odd Chinese who speaks a little English, replies that we are crazy.

I would apply the term crazy to some of the Chinese drivers.  Due to the novelty of our cars it is quite common for foreign cars to pull along side on the freeway and take pictures.  One driver yesterday had one arm on the wheel and the other out the window taking a video of the procession.  Needless to say he nearly clipped me as he pulled in front to pan his camera.