13025 KM. 14 Countries. 38 Days. Thank You! — [Mongol Rally]

13025km, 14 countries, 38 days.

Longest time went without a shower, 4-5 days…who is counting

Camp shower administered, 2

Random bets won, 2 (I also only made 2)

3 flat tires

0 mechanical failures (that is for all of those who made fun of my Romanian made car!)

0 bribes paid (no booze, no cigarettes, nothing given)

Pulled over 5 times

Ticketed once in Prague

Hours spend driving a stick shift before the start of the rally: 1.5 hrs in an IKEA parking lot in Romania

Status of Clutch at the end of the rally: Excellent!

Navigated through Istanbul traffic like a pro, shifted up and down gears on steep hills with the precision of race car driver. Yes. I want to be a race car driver!

Vodka consumed…hmmm….hard to say when everyone just pass the bottle around

1 goat captured for fun

Nights spend star gazing in the middle of nowhere…..every night when it wasn’t 0ºC

Longest border crossing 44 hrs

Shortest border crossing 1.5 hrs

Altercation with a skinny Mongolian man to purchase a spare tire — nearly

Nearly took out the eye of a Canadian with a rock — check

Bottomed out and needed to dig the car out – 2

Days spend in the middle of nowhere…..14+

Reputation: drive like a mad woman and the only woman to have driven it all by herself.

I may have driven across the world by myself but by no means did I do it alone. These last three months has been filled with angles of every kind.

My original teammate, DJ and Pam, even if they did not complete the rally with me.

Our fantastic sponsors, Intrepid Travel, OrtaBlu, Hostel Bookers, Go with Oh, Small Car Big City, Code of Extraordinary Change, Wardour and Oxford and TelecomeSquare USA (Katy, Sue, Luca, Ceyda, Singh, Sara, Robert, Steve, Wempy, Shinubou).

Everyone who bought a raffle ticket or a mystery crate to help us fundraise.

Sherry Ott for having inspired me to take on the rally, for being there at critical junctures and told me in no uncertain terms that I cannot quit.

Earl, Irina and Diana for helping me buy the car from Mr Ion. Mr Ion who is kind enough to sell me a most excellent car with zero mechanical problems. Mr Ion, look, its your Dacia all the way in Mongolia!

My sweet Romanian friends and fellow ralliers whose smile brighten my day and also help me get the car from Bucharest to Prague, Andreea, Cristiana, Romona, Bogdan, Andreea and Florin.

Diego and Thaibute for popping my couch surfing cherry.

Tahir, Carrie, Paul, Gabriella, Kirk, Soma, Carla, Mark, Martin, Mikal, Mutale, Scott, Riza and Maggie, Clare and David for being the angel that you are.

Alex, Oliver, Raven and Don for helping me produce the most fun filled promo video.

Brian, Kevin, Joe and Ota for all your previous rally wisdom and reports of road conditions.

John and Travis of Steel Mongolias for all the laughs and the knowledge that you are testing out the road ahead for me and trying to wait for me.

Lachlan (Polar Bear Posing as People), Peter and Darien (Cranky Canukes), Locky, Scott and Tim (Men Who Stared at Camel), Dave, Paul and Mark (Canadian Camaraderie) — wicked convoy I was fortunate to be a part of.

Tom and Stefan, my two stowaways.

Erin, Kesha, Nate and Emily — thanks for holding down the fort while I am gone.

All of my fellow ralliers with their heart filled with adventure and our new found friendship.

Todd and Bellamie.

I am one lucky woman to have so many angles.

Thank You.

I would not have made it across the world and found my way to the finish line without you.

What’s next? What kind of adventures should we take on next?!

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