Mongol Rally: Crossing the Finish Line: Russia, Mud, and an Alien Goodbye!
The final leg of our epic Mongol Rally took us from the dusty plains of Mongolia to the wilds of Siberia!
Things got off to a dramatic start with a five-hour wait at the border.
Stuck in a slow crawl, we bonded with our fellow ralliers and cursed the clock as precious hours ticked by.
Once in Russia, light rain turned Mongolia’s dust into a gooey, muddy mess on Diana.
And, naturally, our windshield wipers had long since quit, forcing us to navigate half-blind as dusk set in.
We reached Ulan-Ude in Siberia way past closing time – the finish line already locked up for the night.
But no worries!
We celebrated with our first restaurant meal in ages, relaxing into the mellow vibe of Siberia.
The next day, after a slow morning of sightseeing, we rolled Diana (with a push from friends, of course) onto the stage as the finish line officially opened.
We were greeted with colorful silk scarves, shared smiles, and laughter with other weary ralliers.
A couple of days of countryside driving followed – soaking in the lush green landscapes while the Siberian summer still held on.
Our last night in Siberia ended with a Rally Completion party in town.
The music pulsed, vodka flowed, and stories got crazier with every passing minute.
I lasted an hour, then called it a night – somehow, partying felt too tame compared to the journey we’d just finished.
A bit of an anticlimactic end to a crazy ride.
Then, it was time to say goodbye.
I hopped a plane home while Alex stayed behind to sort Diana’s train ride to Estonia.
As I walked through the airport, I spotted a quirky restroom sign with symbols for men, women, and… alien?
Yeah, I kind of felt like one after this wild adventure.
And just like that – it was over.
An adventure of a lifetime, full of highs, lows, and everything in between.
Now, it’s back to reality… but I’ll always carry a piece of the Mongol Rally madness with me.
More from the Mongol Rally here: