Epic Trips: The Mongol Rally

Clearly, Rick is up for challenges.

This month’s theme on Solo Traveler is Epic Trips. Inspiring! Watch for them every Tuesday this month.

Some solo travelers take epic trips alone but some join others to make their trip epic and social as well. This week’s trip involves four travel bloggers, including our author, Rick of Midlife Road Trip, driving 10,000 miles, almost 1/3 of the way around the earth, for a very good cause.

I’m turning fifty this year wanted to do something epic to celebrate. Most people throw a party – but I wanted something more memorable.  Little did I know that 3 other people were also looking to do something epic. Dave and Deb of ThePlanetD.com are used to adventure in all corners of the world, but they were looking for a longer term challenge similar to their bike ride across Africa. Sherry Ott of OttsWorld.com, was looking for unique travel experiences to add to her resume of unique experiences, and she had her eye on the impossible – A road trip across Europe and Asia.

Dave is no newcomer to adventure travel either.

Deb is ready to go!

Sherry's trips are legendary.

4 People, 14 Countries, 10,000 miles

Last summer I met Dave and Deb while on a Twitter trip to Alaska. During a horseback riding excursion, we discussed things that were on our bucket lists. Dave and Deb shared their desire to ride on horseback across Mongolia. I decided that I’d love to join them.

A few weeks later, the D’s contacted me and told me that they had met Sherry Ott of Ottsworld.com at TBEX, a travel bloggers conference.  Sherry was on the lookout for some adventurous Mongol Rally teammates  and ‘sold them’ on the Mongol Rally. They explained that the Rally is a 10,000 mile road trip across two continents and fourteen countries on some of the world’s worst roads – all for charity.

It seemed like fate brought us together.  So when approached with the opportunity to take the ultimate road trip, with three of the world’s foremost travel bloggers, I jumped at the chance! The Social Media Syndicate team was formed.  A team who had just met mainly virtually but who were so excited about the experience, they bonded together on faith…and a love for travel and adventure.  However in the months following we  quickly realized that the adventure is not just about the drive itself, the planning of this epic trip is also an adventure; a test of strength, organization, and spirit.

Follow the Team Across Two Continents

My bucket list includes visiting every continent and every country. The Mongol Rally will give me the opportunity to put a dent in the list as we transverse Europe, cross into Russia and navigate through Wholebunchastans before entering Mongolia. We’ll be going to places that not even the scholars at Rosetta Stone can pronounce.

Along the way, we’ll be writing, blogging, vlogging and tweeting about our adventures as we get on each other’s nerves, eat goat testicles, smell each other’s body odor and share experiences and memories.  That is sure to last longer than a convertible which any normal person would buy to satisfy their midlife crisis – right?

Win a Trip of a Lifetime and Help Make the Mongol Rally a Success

You can follow our progress planning and during the rally on our team’s website, TheSocialMediaSyndicate.com, our respectie blogs, our individual twitter accounts and on Indie Travel Podcasts.

Since we’ve reached our fundraising goal for the Christina Noble Foundation, and obtained a vehicle, thanks to Allways Car Rental, we’re now seeking sponsorship for fuel, lodging, camping gear and satellite communications.   The Social Media Syndicate has teamed up with Intrepid Travel, a leader in small group tours, to raffle a ‘trip of a lifetime’ in an exotic location.  We want others to experience an epic trip and while helping us achieve our own adventure.

The “Rally Raffle” Fundraising Details

Funds raised by the Rally Raffle will go towards petrol and other trip expenses.

• The Rally Raffle can be entered at http://thesocialmediasyndicate.com
• The prize is a choice of one of two trips from Intrepid Travel.  Wild Mongolia – 15 day trip OR Inca Trail – 8 day trip
• Raffle entries cost USD$5 each.
• The Rally Raffle is open and runs from June 6th until Midnight PST on June 12th.
• The winner will be chosen in a random draw and announced the following week.
• Further terms will be available on site.

This is it. This is the journey. Yes, epic!!!

Update: I’m adding this update because it is an interesting service for solo travelers.

Global satellite tracking expert Track24 Sol is sponsoring 2011 Mongol Rally team, the ‘Social Media Syndicate’. The company will provide the team with its state-of-the-art online Solo Viewer and a PackMaster Lo-Pro tracking and two-way messaging device. This will allow family and friends of the 4 team members to track their route.

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