Day 10 - Sunday and Day 11, Monday

Our free day in Moscow.......everyone was up early and raring to go on our walking tour of Moscow accompanied by Ted, one of the Russian Mini Club who met us to escort us into the city.

Ted, we found out during a pitstop in the afternoon, used to live in Reading and worked in Bracknell. Its a small world after all!

We walked for miles around the famous sites....the Kremlin, St. Basil's, the market streets and Ted took us for a ride around the Moscow Metro to see the world famous stations, which, in many cases, resemble palaces and are fine works of art in their own right. We left three of our party behind on the platform at one point as the doors closed rather abruptly and they wait for no-one.......they got the next train and caught up with us at the next station. The train rides were a superb people-watching opportunity - especially for the men!

Everyone did their souvenier shopping on Sunday morning buying dolls and t-shirts, hats and crystal.

We saw the amazing Moscow University which is located in a part of the city with panoramic views providing us with a fantastic photo opportunity. Our feet were getting a bit sore by then but we soldiered on and eventually made it back to the President Hotel around 7 p.m., just in time to turn ourselves around for our Gala Dinner.

The evening was a great success and attended by representatives from the British Embassy and the AEBRUS, the Russian equivalent of the SMMT. A number of people got to their feet and said a few words, each in their own way, but collectively everyone said they'd had an experience of a lifetime, in great company, and wouldn't have missed it for the world.

A small group of ralliers decided sleep was for wimps and stayed up all night, taking a leisurely walk to Red Square at 5 a.m. (another photo opportunity) and then back to the Hotel for breakfast and packing for our return journey.

Our coach picked us up at 1 p.m. for a hour-long journey to the airport, check-in was smoothe, as was passport control and our flight left on time, arriving at Heathrow on schedule. We said our farewells in Terminal 1 and parted company, all the better for the experience and the opportunity to make new friends.

We hope you've enjoyed keeping track of our journey - keep an eye on the blog for an update on the return of the vehicles to the UK.

Days 7, 8 and 9

Hello rally blog readers. Internet access has posed a problem over the last couple of days but we're up and running again and glad to be back!

We left our hotel in Rezekne, Latvia early in the morning and headed for the Russian border. There hangs a tale. We joined the queue at 12.15 p.m. and waited patiently for 8 hours to get to the front of what was not a particularly long queue of cars (lorries are another story), and for our papers to be processed. It was a nerve-wracking experience but everyone was very patient and kept smiling. We eventually crossed the Russian border at 8 p.m. and re-grouped for our onward journey to a town called Velikiye Luki. Although it stayed light until 11 p.m. we still managed to do our only bit of night driving (Kelly got the short straw there).

Having overnighted in our hotel, who graciously served us dinner at midnight! we were off to another early start on Day 8 (Saturday) and our final leg of our mammoth drive to Moscow.

We had expected a rough ride, from reports we heard about the Russian roads but were pleasantly surprised and made excellent progress, arriving in the outskirts of Moscow around 4.30. Our trustee AA men were met by members of the Russian Mini Club who joined our convoy and led us into the city, blocking the carriageway (very brave!) and enabling us all to stay together through the hectic Moscow traffic. It was to be seen to be believed - 14 cars and a motorbike arriving in ubroken convoy through the manic traffic of one of the busiest cities in the world.

At last we reached our destination - RED SQUARE! That was some photocall. Everyone took photos of everyone else and there was a tremendous feeling of achievement and relief. In fact, we were all jubilant.

We then moved on to our Hotel, the President in the heart of Moscow with tremendous views across t he city. The cars were assembled ready for loading onto the transporters which would take them on the journey back to the UK.

Today the group have some free time and again the Russian Mini Club are on hand to take us on a tour of the city. Watch this space............

Day 6 - To Latvia and Beyond!!!!!!!!!!!

Having had such a long drive yesterday we all woke up happy at the thought that we had a shorter day ahead, and the sushine outside confirmed it was gonna be a good one.

We packed up the cars leaving Kaunas at about 8:00am and travelled North East towards the town of Daugavepils. When you reach the bridge theres a large war memorial commemorating those lost in the Russian Revolution and as you drive through the outskirts you can't help being struck by the huge cemetery that lines both sides of the road. It stretches, for what seems like, miles. This is the last resting place for many of the Russian and German civilians who lost their lives during the two world wars, but what is so impressive is the way in which the graves have been tended. They are so tidy, and many had fresh flowers laid.

This whole area is covered with many beautifully maintained churches, which is in stark contrast to the poverty that can be seen in the housing that surrounds them. Christopher and Colin took themselves off to visit one of these in a village called Aglona. It was beautiful, and famous, as the pope had visited during his tour in 1992.

After lunch we pressed on with the journey and crossed the boarder into Latvia. Thankfully, this went without a hitch. Our total journey today was 300 KM's along straight but hilly roads and, whilst we had to contend with more crazy coach and lorry drivers, we haven't had a single problem. All this meant we arrived safely at the hotel just after three, leaving plenty of time to relax and enjoy a well earned rest. Of course, that's if we can stop thinking about reaching Russia tomorrow!

Bye for now..........

The Red Square Ralliers

Day 5 Poland to Lithuania

Good evening Blog readers. Thank you for joining us on Day 5 of our trip.

We woke up to a beautiful day, a swim in the lake and a quick breakfast and on the road again.

We left Ostrada at 9 and made our way East (any other direction would have been most foolish).

Everything was going really rather well and then.......we hit the Lithuanian border. Everyone has a tale to tell about that border so we've chosen one or two to share with you.

The LDV crew arrived with all their paperwork completely in order, as one does, but then a snag. As they were fumbling away with their paperwork trying to sort it all out, they put their passports on the dashboard. The border control officer looked at their documents and handed them back but their passports weren't amongst them. Steve and Tom were naturally very worried at this stage and were quite insistent that the control officer had held onto their passports. They tried to convince him but he was adamant that he'd given them back. Englis, Alison Handley's husband walked around the van and spotted the offending articles on the dash, exactly where they'd been left in the first place. Hey ho! Two very relieved LDV crew beat a hasty retreat.

Story number two. A separate, second convoy arrived at the border, one or two feeling a bit nervous about the prospect but with all our papers in order there was nothing to worry about. Two vehicles were waved through, but not without a thorough examination of the paperwork. Alas, three others were held back and questioned for some time about their documents. A fraught hour or so followed but then everyone was allowed to continue their journey - by which time we all just wanted to get away and continue to the next hotel to chill.

And another story. Our total convoy was divided, as you know by now. The first batch of vehicles had arrived in Kaunas but were having difficulty finding the hotel (we can find the town but hotels are a problem when you've been on the road for almost ten hours). Christopher spotted a police car and approached the Officer and told him they were lost and asked directions to the hotel. Language was proving a problem and so the policeman offered to escort the little convoy to the hotel. On arrival the police officer was asked to pose for a photograph - went back to his car and donned his hat and then was quite willing to be photographed.

Tomorrow is another day.............and another border. Times is 'ard!

Day4 - Poland

Good evening from everyone on the BEN rally.

This morning we woke up to a thunder storm in Szczecin but it soon passed and the weather improved again to that which we've become accustomed in the last few days, 30+ degrees and brillant sunshine. Another wonderful day for most of us, but those poor guys in the non-air conditioned cars suffered another sauna (the AA van registered a temperature of 46.8 at one stage which has melted the headboard).

The Ford Anglia led the convoy and we drove through beautiful countryside during the morning. For the first time we had no motorways, just the usual two way traffic roads but were impressed with them. The lorry drivers are manic mind you - they were overtaking us instead of us doing the overtaking, as is normal in the UK.

We lunched at a lovely restaurant in Bydgoscz, halfway between our two destinations for the day. Onward through more stunning countryside to a little village just north of Ostrada where we are overnighting in the Hotel Masura on the edge of a lake. The AA guys and one from the Anglia swam in the lake and said it was warm and wet!

James (Autologic) had his first day on the motorbike and felt it was real motorcycling countryside, although he did miss the air conditioning (and the lorries) he was used to.

Andy and Marcus in the Peugeot 207SW reminded the BEN Babes that they'd not got their lights on as is compulsory at all times in Poland. Thanks lads. The AA, for their part, reminded the Peugeot lads to put theirs on too!

Another successful and safe day's travelling. Total miles so far........985 - half way!

Day 3 Germany to Poland

Day three.........

This morning we left Hangover (no, sorry, that's Hannover) and travelled east towards Poland.

The group split into groups, some went to Berlin for some sightseeing, Christopher had a meeting with VW at their Head Office and others went on to Postdam where we sat by a picturesque lake and lunched and lunched and lunched. Some of the men in the group had a swim in said Lake and departed all the better for it.

Five of the boys (Peugeot & Autologic) made a visit to Berlin and they melted in city centre 40+ degrees whilst visiting the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate and the Russian War Memorial, before sweating their way north east to Szcezcin in Poland, and sympathising for our colleagues in the vintage vehicles.

The journey out of Potsdam for the vintage cars and the AA van was not without its difficulties as road works prevented them from taking the route we needed. Eventually we made it to the motorway and onward to the Polish border. Passport control was blissfully inattentive and we arrived in Poland without a hitch.

After a smooth crossing we arrived in Holland bright and early on Sunday morning. At this point we wondering what to do about the poor little Ford Anglia, but we didn't have to worry for long, as of course, we have the AA with us. Those beautiful men from the fourth emergency service didn't let us down either, quickly coming up with a solution! In no time at all the boys had fixed the problem and we were all on our way after a quick briefing on a bonnet.

Sunday also saw us cross over into Germany, and after a very long and hot day we all arrived safely at our hotel in Hanover. Thankfully most of us weren't too frazzled as we had air con, but the same couldn't be said for the guys driving the ford Anglia and the AA Minivan. Our welcome in Germany has been supurb and the Germans certainly know how to eat. If the week carries on like this i may be rolling home...

Kelly

And Their Off!

After some delays due to traffic, all the participating cars rolled into Forbes House, the SMMT's Headquarters in London, for a briefing from our tour guide before we set out for Trafalgar square. Nearly all of us had a few nerves about what laid ahead but this was definitely offset by the air of excitement. Spirits were high as we went over a few last minute details and the practical jokes started as a number of the teams tried to make me believe that their return air tickets had the wrong name on them!

As the clock rolled round to 4pm we jumped in the cars and set off on the first leg of our journey, cruising through Trafalgar square, then making our way to Harwich where we all convened for a substantial dinner before boarding our over night crossing to the Hook of Holland.

All was going well until the little Austin came to board. It was getting dark, the incline was steeper than they thought and sadly they caught the mid section of the exhaust damaging it quite badly!

Kelly Neal

What a Week!

There been so much to do and check, that Ros and I (the two BEN staff mad enough to join the team) left getting our visa's to the last possible minute and had to make a mad dash to London. We arrived, queued for the application and returned at the time we were instructed to. Only at this point did anyone realise that I had been given a receipt with the wrong name on. Thankfully this was finally resolved and we now have the shiny stickers that will let us cross the border.

However it doesn't stop there. We returned to find the vehicle we were planning on taking was now unavailable. 2 days of frantic phone calls followed as we tried to find a substitute. Thankfully its sorted and we now have wheels.

They say that things come in three's and they'd be right! I was moving some stuff at work this morning and tripped. So after a visit to the local casualty department, i can now announce that i have broken my arm! Oh well, it looks like Ros will be doing all the driving then.........

Kelly