Mongol Rally Day 7 - First Breakdown,Mr Castle,Turkey

Texts and updates galore today as the the lads, invigorated after the dip in the Black Sea, head for the Bopsphorus crossing where they will bestow their particular and unique brand of culture to the unsuspecting folk of Asia. No doubt their arrival will bring the relative opulence of European hotels to an abrupt end and instead will trigger the use of the tent. One updated stated :

"roughed it for a night at a brand new 4 star hotel : on the road for Istanbul in and hour if we can leave the hotel pool side".


 However they evidently managed to manoeuvre their substantial torsos and hit the road again:

" through our first big border point on the road to Istanbul baby!"


Sometime between the poolside in Bulgaria and Turkey they were confronted by an abominable apparition. The text received (Steve) by me this morning also shocked me to the core. The text said :

Cabby The Turk (right) with Inky Wilson taking a
break from his hectic modelling schedule.

" just drove by Cabby's twin brother".

The question of Mr Castles' roots  has always been a bone of contention with many who know him so this  sighting  points to the likelihood of Ottoman blood which fits in well with his swarthy appearance and the  monstrous appendage he used to wear above his lip which many males of  Turkish/Bulgarian stock choose to sport.

Text updates I've just received sent while still in Bulgaria:

"first breakdown in Burgas Hungary (think this is probably in Bulgaria) fuel line on lead car kaput luckily our man in havana mr steve on the case...JAP'S log stardate 29711"

Then:


"all sorted jonny and steve fixed it now in turkey just crossed border no probs the land of atarturk Japs log"

So whilst Steve and Jonny the only two able to distinguish the bonnet from the boot amongst the five were toiling under an unforgiving sun, smothered in flies, sweating, stinking and oiled-up, what were the other three contributing. Perhaps they took the opportunity for a bit of personal grooming ? The removal of blackheads from their dishevelled faces?,  a nice manicure perhaps?, or if it was not to much of a burden they may have been congenial enough to hand one of the mechanics the odd spanner ?. The question of the roles of the five for the duration of the odyssey was raised before they left. Obviously from reading above and also very fortunately Steve and Jonny amongst other things were charged with mechanics. Others claimed responsibility for various alternative assignments. The best answer emerged when one of the  crew was  challenged as to what he could contribute to the team, his first-rate reply and answer that earned his place  was   ...........  BALLAST.

UPDATE:

"Staying n 5 star hotel supposed 2 b 220 euros go it 4 85 euros god knows what they think i have washed my smalls and they're hanging on the balcony turks are very friendly and helpful"  J.Pittaway

Washing his smalls ?....thought he was travelling "commando" perhaps the heat and hours on end on a car seat caused a particularly virulent case of  the dreaded "Hoddys  Hoop".......