I want to thank Mark for keeping my blog updated and apologize for the lack of information for the past couple of weeks. Surprisingly enough finding internet in Kazakhstan and Siberia was difficult. In the spirit of SNOWBOARD, I am doing a mega photo post. The full, agonizingly long story is available at www.badcolonies.org along with some video. Enjoy and thanks for the support - Seth

''But right now it seems the world's turned upside down, I got to hope that better times will come around, not going to stop and let the hard times drag me down, you know I'll be home soon'' - Sven Curth

I didn't have the full SNOWBOARD sticker. This shot is from Russia, the first time through. The Brits got to our car with a marker. The line under the sticker says "V5's are for pussies." We did the whole rally without proper car registration making border crossings interesting. I wanted to rub it in the Brits face that we had bigger balls

The Fiat drives into the sunset in Kaz the day before her death.

The Long Walk - Final Resting Place of the Fiat in central Kaz. We actually replaced a head gasket in the middle of nowhere but broke a head bolt in the process. She didn't make it.

Fiestavus enjoying some down time in Central Kaz, all rejoice in her glory. Yes that's an Agency sticker on the front, I am so core I support dead companies killed by mega corporations.

Another shot of the back of the car somewhere in the desert of Kazakhstan.

Patrick breaking camp near the Russian border

Coffee, broken one litre cars, and borders - just like home, sort of

My co-driver Patrick got caught between Russia and Kazakhstan, with neither willing to let him in. Eventually after 2 and half days, the Kazaks guards smuggled him off the border, but that's a long story. This is him leaning against the fence with the Russian border facilities in the background

Dusk in Western Siberia behind the Seat

At two in the morning while doing 60 mph along the Trans Siberian Highway, the rear tire fell off the Fiestavus with me behind the wheel. This is the morning after. I thought she was finished.

A Merecedes Benz dealership towed and fixed the car in 4 hours on a Saturday. An absolute miracle. These are the mechanics with Dominic and I. I have on my SNOWBOARD hat, which is dirtier and stinks more than any article of clothing in my house. My daughter points at my stuff and says "Dadda's, stinky"

This is where the Seat's rally ended. About 700 miles from the finish in Siberia. The Trans Siberian Railway is in the background. With time, we could easily have fixed her. Unfortunately, at this point we were about 28 hours from having our Russian visas expire and the prospect of being detained in a Siberian prison forced us to move on in the Fiestavus

The final resting spot of the Seat in the woods of Siberia, hopefully some lucky Russian gets her running.

Lake Baikal in the morning.

A remote Ger with solar power and a satellite dish.

The Fiestavus in the Mongolian countryside, at this point she leaked gas like mad, had no brakes, no suspension in the right rear, and a wheel that could fall off at any moment. Just the way to finish the rally.

The Fiestavus outside Dave's Place in UB, Mongolia, the finish line.