Hi everybody and a very warm and horsey welcome to Will's blog.  I'm planning on updating this space with takes of achievement and derring do on my path to Derby readiness.  I really am open to any hints and tips on how best to prepare one's body and mind for this trip, rubs and religions equally welcomed.

Mongol Derby Drinkies

So, saw the whites of the eyes of the enemy - the victory hungry, woefully misled fools that think that glory awaits them on the Steppes. Pah! I strike their insolent cheeks with my metaphorical leather riding gauntlet.

Thank the good Lord there was little indication of any people on the Derby that weren't going to be tip-top company in hospital...when we're all in traction for the month of October.

Other than some lovely pizza slizes and spicy prawns there was also a load of fab advice on offer from an old Mongol riding hand.  Amongst tips on pooing (with the horses, Mongol for "Where's the lav" translates as "Can you show me the horses?"), clothing (no chaps, Wrangler jeans - thank goodness) there was a fairly scary chapter on dogs.  They look like this:

 guard the gers and are trained to eat anything that isn't their owner. Apparently they sport little red bows for you to admire as they eat your head.  TOP TIP: Learn Mongolian for "Hold your dog" - it sounds like "Mou! Nahoy Horey!".  I wonder if it'll go down as well as "Kiss me Hardy"....

Man phone - Grrr

Apparently we won't be needing new fangled Satellite phones to keep in touch with the world during the Derby because the local pre-pay mobile sims actually work from all over the Steppes.  (I'm presuming this has a lot to do with the previous Russian landlords and their tendency to be a little over-zealous with their introduction of technology wherever they went.)

So, we just need handsets that are waterproof, hoof proof and general dust and grime proof…

Enter the lovely people at Samsung. They kindly donated two B2100 Solid Extreme handsets – apparently designed for exactly the sort of silly people that smash across deserts on horseback. Hurrah!  Thanks Claire, if Jonny Rambo had a phone, this would be it.

 "It's simple. Live for nothing or die for something" - Jonathon Rambo, Samsung B2100 Mobile Phone Review 2009

Drunk Rider Trial

Facebook has been tamed and used to serve the Mongol Derbyist's ends.  The official Mongol Derby Runners Group is now up and running and we're already sharing top tips about horse bits.

Given that every book on Mongolian travel that I've so far read highlights a national ability to imbibe gallons of home brew (distilled from mare's milk), we thought a vital bit of training would be to get together to nail JaegerBombs on horse back.  The invite has been sent for two weeks time - will it catch on?

Survival....just

Have just returned from the wilds of Devon where Nobby from Intrepid Adventures was prepping myself and fellow derbyists Nick and Holly on how to survive when everything goes wrong.  Provided that 'everything going wrong' does not include six hours of mid-Atlantic squall-like weather I'd day anything is possible.  

Top tips 

• If you do encounter afore mentioned conditions, make sure you pack a gallon of diesel to get the fire started.
• Gore-Tex is not perfect.  Four out of five soaked survivalists would agree vehemently - if only they could stop their teeth chattering. 
• Make sure you cut around the rabbit's bum hole when skinning it otherwise it gets messy (er)
• The Swedes (not sweeds) are very clever and make really simple and very useful survival kit
• Flares are fun
• Insects taste just fine, especially when lightly heated
• Apparently a nun on a bicycle is a cyclist.  And that this is a funny joke.