“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning”

Bluebell 2 in the shade

Well guess what we are, still in Baku, although it is a great city we will be glad to see the back of it. We feel we are being treated a bit like mushrooms, kept in the dark and fed on s**t.

Last night I got my own back on Andy C who claimed I was snoring badly, and how could Jane possibly sleep with me making that noise! I gently reminded of his episode in Romania, with an immediate retort of “I only do it when I am drunk”!!!

On are many visits to Starbucks to take advantage of their excellent air conditioning and high speed wifi. Andy demonstrated his lack of sleep due to his claim of me snoring, but I think more likely due his regular visits to the bathroom, by nodding off. However, what was amusing was that suddenly when he nodded off he hit his head against the wall behind his seat. Not enough to wake him up but due the plasterboard wall all the other customers could hear it, funnily enough the thump on the wall was in time with the music being played in the cafe.

This am we were all told that we would all be leaving on the ferry to Turkmenbashi this evening, boarding at 11 o’clock. The allotted time arrived only for use to be told that we will board at 9 in the morning. We have suffered due to two of the shipping companies largest ferries breaking down and the bottleneck being exacerbated by 50 Mongol rally cars arriving at the same time. We are praying that we enter Turkmenistan before our visas runs out, we will be on day three tomorrow of a five day visa.

One of the difficulties is that because we are never told what is happening we dare not leave the port to investigate Baku more widely in case we miss the ferry. The port authorities are being very good to us, providing food and drink and offering free tours of the area, which we have not taken up for the reasons above.

While whiling our time away in Starbucks one of our fellow ralliers was bemoaning the wait for the ferry to Andy C who tried to use the quote from Churchill about the end of the beginning, which he failed miserably recalling the quote. So I had to remind him it goes “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning”

It was really hot today and having stayed at the port overnight on our blow up beds we had limited bathroom facilities. Andy C managed to organise a special treat in the port, the workers shower room. It cost us 2manet each £1 each for a cool shower it was heaven with the temperatures close to the forties.

The rest of the day was taken up chatting to different teams, getting all the gossip from the fall outs, car repairs etc. We hope we will not be posting our next blog from Baku.