Not long now!

Only 17 days or so to go and we are all getting really excited! Our passports have been returned and the visa's seem to all be sorted - which is a big weight off our minds!  The car is almost sorted now and there are only a few things left to finish off - all small but we will still probably forget something!

We have been having issues with the route that we have picked as Azerbaijan is looking like its going to be the biggest problem on the way (I'm sure there will many problems along the way!) - To enter Turkmenistan we need to cross the Caspian Sea on a boat from Baku in Azerbaijan - unfortunately the authorities there will not let you get onto the boat without a valid visa for Turkmenistan - even if you have a letter of invite to the country that entitles you to a visa on arrival.  The problem is, the visa for Turkmenistan is only valid for 5 days, so we can't apply for it ahead of schedule as, if we miss the window we will be completely stuck!  At the moment we are hoping to blag our way around this one, but it has been a real headache.  The only option if we are refused access to the ferry is to head all the way back across Turkey.  We can't go North into Russia from Azerbaijan as the border is closed and Chechnya is on the other side (one of the most dangerous places in the world at the moment) and going south is not an option as we don't have time to get Visa's and all the other paperwork for Iran and Afghanistan!

 Fingers crossed it will all work out, and if it doesn't - it'll be even more of an adventure.

Adam