After 10 short days already the last day of our 11 day adventure across the Caucasus had come. It started with high hopes for Belgian Team Care Bears, whose tank had started leaking the day before, but miraculously stopped doing so overnight. But the joy only lasted till someone pointed out that it was probably just empty by then. In the end it turned out, that the tank is only leaking, when there are more than 25 l inside. So no need to fix it, just to plan the gas station visits during the last day very well. Lucky Team Care Bears! The last cultural highlight of the Caucasian Challenge 2016, before heading to Yerevan for the Award Ceremony in the evening, was a visit in the 9th century monastery Tatev, sitting on a plateau high above the Vorotan River. The teams had the choice between driving up the steep, winding mountain road all the way or to take the “Wings of Tatev”, an almost 6 km long cable-way to the monastery, offering spectacular views over the valley. The last part of the road lead across two spectacular mountain passes, giving Armenia’s rugged landscapes a last chance to show off. Latest when passing by Mount Ararat in the distance, while the cloud cover just opened up over the majestic mountain, even the last participants could not help but give Armenia a special place in their memories. In the evening, the Award Ceremony and Finish Party with lots of wine, food, medals and fancy prizes took place in an open air space in Yerevan. The popular “Bonkers Award” went to Hungarian Team Wonderlust King for completing the challenge in their old and rusty Subaru Justy and sleeping in the same many of the nights. How about getting a shower now, guys! The award as
After 10 short days already the last day of our 11 day adventure across the Caucasus had come. It started with high hopes for Belgian Team Care Bears, whose tank had started leaking the day before, but miraculously stopped doing so overnight. But the joy only lasted till someone pointed out that it was probably just
After an exhausting day five, a rather relaxed day was waiting for our teams. First, we headed to the city of Gori... Birthplace of Stalin In this center of his still-ongoing personal cult, we could visit his birth house, by now enclosed and protected by a shrine - like building. Also nearby is the Stalin Museum, where you'll hear less about the horrors of his regime, and rather more about his charisma and good intentions. (By the way, did you know that young Stalin was actually hot?) For some of us, the most entertaining part of the museum was the souvenir shop, where you could acquire little Stalin-shaped trinkets filled with – you got it - chacha. Well, as the saying goes: you can take a man out of Georgia… But anyway. For diehard fans of the man, who’d never be content with such Stalin-lite fripperies, there’s also an option of a long stroll down Stalin Avenue, with or without a bottle of his favorite wine – the blood-red Khvanchkara - in hand. Tbilisi Party Preparations - Team LR on Form Again! Team Wired Mango rushed ahead to our destination in Tbilisi, to do a quick reconnaissance of the lay of the land re possible party venues. Guess who was already expecting them in the hotel – yup, the rally’s unchallenged champions of efficiency and punctuality, Team Llanfair Railway – a.k.a. the “No-Faffing-Zone”, as they like to call themselves. We are quite sure that even in the event of an imminent apocalypse, these guys would find time to brew a cuppa on their gas stove and would still not be one minute late for the spectacle. Party with a Plot Twist... In the evening, teams and organizers, once again, had a great party, but this
After an exhausting day five, a rather relaxed day was waiting for our teams. First, we headed to the city of Gori… Birthplace of Stalin In this center of his still-ongoing personal cult, we could visit his birth house, by now enclosed and protected by a shrine – like building. Also nearby is the Stalin
Day Five should be one of the highlights of the Caucasian Challenge 2016: driving up the narrow and winding mountain roads to Ushguli, one of the highest-altitude continuously inhabited villages and, after that, crossing the 2600-meter high Zagor Pass. A Strange Crew on a Strange Brew: a Few Hiccups in Fluidity But first things first: a significant number of party-maniacs, especially members of Team Care Bears and Team Llanfair Railway, had to get over last night’s hangover. We are not sure if the advocates of a newly invented chacha-rum cocktail (50 % chacha, 50% rum. Don’t try this at home, except if you are a professional!) would still defend the genius of their idea as vehemently as they did the night before… As if to mirror the experimenters' inner weather, the asphalt road out of Mestia gradually gave way to potholed gravel roads, often interlaced with clear mountain streams and populated more by cows than by cars. The view of old houses and defense towers on both sides in lush meadows hinted at what more was to come. Ushguli: Majestic Mountains and a Spot of Folk Wisdom When the valley to Ushguli finally opened up, the teams were taken aback by the majesty of the ancient town, skirted by lush green mountains and snow covered glaciers. Having come to terms with the sheer beauty of it all, some stopped for a leisurely lunch, while one person decided to take their still-lingering hangover to the strategically placed magical pillows just a few steps away that came cleverly disguised as the stairs of the local grocery store. Then the shop owner came out. Luckily, not to shoo the poor soul away to kick his professional reputation back up the few notches the spectre of his drowsy doorstep-dweller had
Day Five should be one of the highlights of the Caucasian Challenge 2016: driving up the narrow and winding mountain roads to Ushguli, one of the highest-altitude continuously inhabited villages and, after that, crossing the 2600-meter high Zagor Pass. A Strange Crew on a Strange Brew: a Few Hiccups in Fluidity But first things
