We realise this will be a huge update and so won't be as comprehensive as usual but we have it all on video and so will update at a more convienient time!
After repairing the engine for the umpteenth time we were away again, heading back to Tehran this time though to collect our visas.. due to Mr Ali's time delay we didn't have time to get to Matin's family at a socialable hour and had to kip in the jeep outsite the Turkmenistan embassy, Matt opted for the road under the jeep soon to be told this was not a good idea by the local police. Before nodding off Ste laughed and said I bet that Arash guy comes and finds us in the morning...
Nice one.. "Hello my friends!!" well before 9am.. Ste pretends he's asleep with a smirk on his face and leaves Matt to deal with it after having no sleep, bitten to shite and generally not in the best of moods.. anyway we sorted visas and headed forth for Matin's family after leaving Arash as politely as possible ..the plan to meet at a big bridge.. in an hour.. in the end we got there and had a good time.. out to dinner.. our fortunes told (Ste's having 8 kids with a blonde Matt's having an under 23 year old wife no matter what age he is) and more of an intorduction to the Iranian way of life.. the hospitality as up by the Caspian was second to none.. many thanks to Mahan (Matin's bro).
Back to Mr Ali's for one final final leaving party and even then he wanted us to stay longer but we had to head outwards!!
On to Turkmenistan with a brief beach stop and an introduction from another random who was building a massive port!! He also wanted some English friends and invited us back, this time we had to decline and head out as our visa was running out of time!
To the border.. the worst one yet.. 14 hours later we reach the border and after arricing ealry we are told that our documents say that we need to go to the border 600km west of our position.. sack that boyo.. we aint moving.. we're coming through here! So after muchos arguments and hassle we are told the border shuts at 3pm and they suggest we make our way west. We decided to stay determined that we were not going to make a 1200km detour when all we wanted to do was head 30km north to Ashgabaat. In the morning it was mission time and guess what the British embassy in Tehran is closed.. so emergency line here we come and some help from the Turkmenistan side too.. eventually after a lot of hassle and phone calls etc and the embassy saying "Don't count on anything, this is what these borders are like" we were let through!! We met this guy before we went through who kept spirits high! Believe it or not his name was David and his mates.. 'Joseph' hahaha..
Once in to Turkmenistan border, comedy with the 'border' guards running across the scanning machines, spinning on his chair. Taking lunch breaks half way through processing applications...
With 2 dollars left they charged us $150 entry fee (For one day)
On to Turkmenistan.. an eerie feel.. until we hit the capital and what an amazing place this was.. one of the best cities we have been to in our lives!!
After a night out and a nice beer we were away again!! Through Turkmenistan it was very odd.. had an odd feel about it, random tornadoes starting up.. a shed load of money kicking about a few Osamas and of course some animals along the way.. it was bloody hot too hence the Hog losing a layer..
Onwards towards uzbekistan the signs got very confusing: one would say "MARY" 600km next one about 5km down the road would read 615km WTF?
We were also stopped every 10 minutes by randomly dressed 'Border Police' who checked our documents tried to get money and generally slowed us down, all in good spirit though.. we also had a few problems with the Hog to do with fueling and the air filter, this was not a place we wanted to be breaking down for any length of time!
Uzbekistan.. after camping at the border for a few hours waiting for the thing to open we arrived to pure comedy..
The border guards got in the jeep, thought it was hilarious spent ages trying to start it as it has no keys and had a generally raz in it around his compound!! It took a day to get through Uzbekistan, very nice people, we were planning on going to Tashkent but the Hog was playing up again and so we decided to take the most direct route.. towards Almatay.. missing out on Krgystan as we realised we only had single entry to Kazakhstan and not double.. good planning lads!!
A comedy tractor.. three wheeler! WTF??
From here on in it was bad for the Hog.. knocking, the worse roads yet.. struggling up hills.. with 40mph the limit...
We were spurred on by more random cows who seem to do whatever they like from Romania onwards.. literally, motorways, pavements whatever they like!
Almost out of Uzbekistan.. bang.. Matt checked the mirror.. nice one Ste, window broken, too fast around the corner and so now only our sponsors we holding this one together!
When Matt was told they can repair his sandal but you can't wait in the shop.. cheers
Matt chillin..
On the way there, more vehicle trouble, we had to push the bus to get it going! When we were there, it seemed so was half of Japan, Europe, the US etc etc.. still good though.. our first tour.. 
Messing around in our cabin!! 
Being sensible in Moscow!
This was going to be an over night affair.. so played some cards, had a few beers then off to bed.. much to the delight of the only girl in our cabin.. (oh no two english men!!).. we also met.. an Astronaut / Test pilot for Russia!! (Sound guy)
Then we got the train to Lviv!! 
