The Breakdown

Animated version of our breakdown:
A mere 400kms from the finish line, Genghis Khanada suffered what can only be described as a nearly catastrophic breakdown. While driving with what Bret described as a lead foot and Chris called a pillow foot (can’t please anyone!), Jared felt the reigns of our trusty steed veer violently to the left. The Pale Pony’s nostrils roared with flames and she bellowed at the top of her lungs in agony, begging us to pull over. After a close inspection we discovered the cause of our ride’s pain… An injury that would have most teams graciously bowing out of the competition. But a broken axel and crooked wheel weren’t going to keep us down; plus our beautiful beast promised us that she could make it to the nearest welder, a measly 40kms away, on the one-inch section of metal remaining. So with the light fading andour maps promising asphalt soon, Chris took the keys away from Jared and limped on… into the darkness.

Or more accurately:
About 40km from Arvayheer Jerry pulls the car over thinking there is a flat or some problem with the steering. By the tilt to our rear left tire we know something is wrong. Broken rear axle, no one is terribly surprised. Of the approximately 12 inches of metal attaching the hub to the axle, about 4 remain. On the upside, a few km down the road is the first stretch of asphalt we have seen since leaving Russia. We decide to try and nurse it, hoping for a welder in town. Bret and the spare fuel go in the Peugeot, the spares on the hood and Chris is given the task of turtling it into town. It takes a couple of hours to make 30km and there is about 1.25in of the original 12 holding the hub onto the axle. The wheel is at a good 25deg tilt. By now it is getting late so we park the Pale Horse on the highway shoulder and camp next to her.