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4 Men, two 14 year old Jeep Wranglers, 14 countries and a long drive.....

We are planning an exciting and challenging journey from Baku, Azerbaijan to Aberdeen, Scotland over a two week period. Since we are doing the trip anyway we thought we should see if we can raise a bit of money for charity at the same time so have started this web page. We are raising money through Just Giving on line and also any money we raise locally in Baku will be given to the International Womans Club in Baku to help the local orphanages. All money raised will go to charity so please give generously. There is a link on the right to the Just Giving website. The route is described below and we are planning to camp when possible and hotels/BB where we cant camp.

The Team

Alan Ferguson
Martin Wallek
Colin Wallek
Alan Forsyth

Alan Ferguson

I have been living and working in Baku since July 2005 with my wife Angie and daughter Sophie (7). Martin already had his jeep when I arrived here and had started modifying it and I immediately caught the bug, bought my Wrangler from a friend Keith and set to work building an offroader. After many hours of work (with a lot of help from Martin) and a few dollars (wont say how many in case Angie reads this) ended up with what I like to think is a great blend of offroader and road car which it needed to be as I was using it every day to get to work. After the trip I am going to leave it in Aberdeenshire on axle stands until we are ready to move back to the Pitmedden by Ellon. Thinking of that I will have to don my knee pads and speak to Angie about a replacement car to get me to work! Mmmm, Keith has another Wrangler for sale???

Anyway, once I found out Martin was moving back to Aberdeenshire and doing the drive I thought it was too good an opportunity to miss. A real test of the cars and the drivers and I knew I had to do it as well. A good mate of mine, and my best man, Baz is a bit of a travel nut and would be explorer so he had to be the choice of travel companion and second driver. When I gave him a shout there was not much in the way of decisions to be made other than he would also have to don his knee pads and speak to his wife. I should point out at this point that my mate Martin is also my cousin and he had asked his crazy father my Uncle Colin to join him.

I knew that this was a four man team that would really enter into the spirit of the journey and that whilst it would be a fantastic experience it would also be hard going and challenging at times. Well starting around the 16th July 2009 we will find out and we plan to update this site as we go assuming there is internet access available. The bits I am looking forward to most are Northern Turkey, Romania, Hungarian Grand Prix and not looking forward to Bratislava in Slovakia because I have seen the movie Hostel!

Pure Teflon

Martin Wallek

12 years ago I went across to Baku, Azerbaijan with work for what was meant to be 2 weeks; 6 months later I came home with my fiance. This was the way things happened over there, once they got a hold of you (the company that is, not my fiance), they were reluctant to let you go.

We lived in Scotland for almost 2 years and during this time I was rotating out of Baku.

January 2000, I moved to Baku to live with my wife Natalia and we have lived here ever since.

Ive been involved in all projects in Baku for the last 12 years and have decided to move back home with our 2 beautiful daughters, Saphia (9) and Nicole (7). Ive enjoyed our time spent in Baku and have made wonderful friendships which I will cherish forever.

About 6 years ago I had the idea to drive back home to Aberdeen. I had been told of guys who had done the drive to here, and drive home, on bikes and by car. The route they did was by ferry from either Greece or Turkey across the water to Italy and then to drive through Europe. I always said if Im going to do it, then I will do it all by land, cause it can be done.

I bought a Jeep Wrangler 4 years ago, and have been modifying it for my favourite pastime, four-wheeling in the Caucasus Mountains. Ive spent a lot of time and money on my Jeep, and there is no way Im going to sell it to anyone. This is the car Im driving home with.

My co-pilot is my best friend and also, my Father! He has always said from day one of this idea that he would join me. He didnt ask me, he told me! You cant argue with your father now, can you? To be honest, I cant think of anyone else I would have by my side on this exciting journey.

Ugly Duck

Colin Wallek

Apparently I live in Peterculter, Aberdeen - though my wonderful (and very understanding) wife Mhari claims that actually I live in various offices around the world - and have spent most of the last 12 years travelling globally through work (much to the disappointment of my my 2 wonderful daughters, Tasmin and Robyn (12 and 11 going on 23 and 21). More used to the "pleasures" of business travel, the thought of living in a tent for 2 weeks - even if it is with one of my best mates - is going to be a challenge in itself (do they have room service at this campsite?)

My expertise with cars is legendary - especially when it comes to losing lots of money on them, and my ability to not keep the same one for longer than 20 minutes. In the past year I have managed to work out where the windscreen washer goes, but am struggling with what the cap with 710 on it is for (apparently I should look the other way up), so am hoping that the Wrangler does not have any sort of technical issue (unless to do with the computer system).

As a Project Manager, I have fully documented the Risks and Issues associated with this adventure and am currently looking for someone to take my place....any offer taken.

To avoid confusion, I am also known as Baz - a nickname from primary school, and absolutely nae idea where it comes from (other than maybe all my mates being called Fuzz, Coz, Maz, Rodz - must have been some sort of weird punk thang)

The Story