Sowing the seed of temptation

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Mongol Rally 2008 Challenge

Well having lost my team mate I set about wracking my brains; who is mad enough to do this? who could I effectively live in a car with for an entire month, or more? who could I trust to make it to the start? let alone the finish! who can get the time off work? these and many other questions buzzed inside my head like wasps round a can of coke.

The list was soon whittled down to but a few, friends of the highest order. I sharpened my knife before thinking further on the subject, eventually reducing the list to a mere stub with only three names remaining: Ben, Carl and Paul. It just didn't feel right though, out of everyone I knew these were the people most likely to savor such an opportunity for lunacy yet there was a faint rumbling in my gut suggesting that for one reason or another they just wouldn't have the right stuff.

Regardless of this I proceeded to contact the aformentioned individuals to test the water. Lots of umming and urring ensued 'I don't know anything about cars' nor do I, I proffered, 'is it me or aren't there some dodgy countries between here and Mongolia?' a few I admitted, I then suggested that we could just put the pedal to the metal and pick up the pace through these, 'my girlfriends just had a baby' 'ur or bu...hmmmm'. Eventually, as I'd feared, one by one, despite my best efforts of pursuasion and attempts at bribery an answer of no was returned.

What is one to do? I could go on my own but I fear I would go quite mad, no no that wouldn't do at all. A fantastic adventure to be had but no one to share the experience with. Think man think, damn this irreparable mind of mine! Then the phone rang, it was Paul, hoping he'd changed his mind I answered eagerly. He hadn't and to be honest I really dont remember much of what he said until 'what about Stevie?' Stevie who? I replied 'you know Stevie! I'm working for him at the moment'........'SHIT! that Stevie!'. He's been all over the shop, he'd be a perfect travelling companion, how could I possibly have forgotten him? As the old grey matter cranked into gear once again I started to recall chatting to Stevie about the Mongol Rally the previous year and how he'd said that he'd love to do it. I made the call, Stevie answered.

We hadn't been in touch for a while so we went through the routine, what you doing? same, what you doing? same, except for getting married, wow I said, that's great, congratulations! Then it dawned on me, I'd already lost my original team mate due to a similar issue, now I faced losing the only other person I knew that would seriously consider attempting this lunatic trip before he was even on board. However, with that thought pushed firmly to the back of my mind I went straight to the nitty gritty and popped the question.
'You've probably heard already that I've bagged a place on the rally'
'yep'
'well my team mate has dropped out'
'yep'
jees make it hard why don't you!
'well..........are you up for it?'
A multitude of thinking noises meandered down the phone line like an army of stoners through a festival. I waited patiently for the reply 'well...... the thing is I've just got married and I've promised the wife a new car and I'm not sure she'd go for it anyway' aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! I put the phone down by my side while I banged my head against the nearest wall a couple of times. Ok fair enough I said while Stevie was still mumbling on about how he'd really love to do it but just cant. We chatted a bit more then said bye.

A few minutes later I got a text message from Stevie saying how he's gutted and would have loved to do it etc. and that he was willing to lend a hand with the car and the organisation etc. in the run up to the rally, if I needed any help let him know. Having read the message the first thought to cross my mind was 'the seed has been sown and the fat lady isn't singing just yet' well, something along those lines. A few more minutes went by and I got another text, once more from Stevie, requesting that I don't ask anyone else and that he would let me know for definite the next day. He just needed to wait till his wife would be awake (due to the time difference between here and Thailand where she lives) and call her to talk it over.

I could couldn't get to sleep that night, even though the suspense was tiring. Then when I'd just about nodded off at about 4 ish my phone goes, another message from Stevie. After waiting a while for my eyes to wake up and focus I read the message 'Yes yes yes, the misses says yes! It was the charity thing that did it, helping children etc. I'll give you a buzz later today, sorry if I woke you up'. I was happy to have been woken up, I could now finally relax (for a bit anyway). I turned my phone off and drifted gently into sleep with a grin on my face and plans forming in my head. Sorted.