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A couple have completed the adventure of a lifetime by travelling for 127 days across 16 countries in a classic car they bought for £500 on eBay.
Clive, 54, and Gillian Raven, 53 - who have been together for 33 years - travelled 17,342 miles in a blue 1968 Triumph 1300 after starting their trip from their home Sheffield in June.
They visited France, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Mongolia, China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore - arriving back home via India in October.
They visited France, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Mongolia, China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore - arriving back home via India in October.
Mr Raven said: ‘We have been on plenty of package holidays - we've been to Australia and we've done Thailand - but we wanted to do something really different. Having a car gave us freedom.
‘(It) allowed us to go off the beaten track. If we didn't like a hotel we just moved on. If we loved somewhere, we stayed put for a little longer. We did what we wanted, when we wanted.’
‘(It) allowed us to go off the beaten track. If we didn't like a hotel we just moved on. If we loved somewhere, we stayed put for a little longer. We did what we wanted, when we wanted.’
The couple staggered their journey by alternating driving duties, spending one day out of every four days on the road. They spent their nights camping, or staying in budget motels.
Mr Raven, a self-employed diesel plant fitter, bought the Triumph for £500 on eBay and restored it himself in preparation for their adventure.
He said: ‘People thought we were mad. They said we would never make it. They kept asking me if we were worried about breaking down or getting injured.
Mr Raven, a self-employed diesel plant fitter, bought the Triumph for £500 on eBay and restored it himself in preparation for their adventure.
He said: ‘People thought we were mad. They said we would never make it. They kept asking me if we were worried about breaking down or getting injured.
‘The way I saw it, I'd only bought the car for £500, so if it didn't survive the trip then I wouldn't lose a huge amount of money.’
The wide variety of environments they travelled through brought particular challenges. Mr Raven said: ‘In the Gobi desert we had a bit of a problem with fuel evaporating because it was so hot.
The wide variety of environments they travelled through brought particular challenges. Mr Raven said: ‘In the Gobi desert we had a bit of a problem with fuel evaporating because it was so hot.
‘I had to do a few repairs on it along the way, but only small things, and I had some spares with me in case of emergencies. Local people warmed to us when we drove through their villages.
‘People saw the car and wanted to engage with us, coming over to shake our hands. Being in an old car, rather than a modern vehicle, we felt more connected with the world outside.’
‘People saw the car and wanted to engage with us, coming over to shake our hands. Being in an old car, rather than a modern vehicle, we felt more connected with the world outside.’
The pair saw the Kremlin in Moscow, viewed the Terracotta Army in Xi'an and ate goats' cheese at the table of a hospitable Mongolian family.
Mr Raven said: ‘In China we were required to stick to an agreed route and we were needed an official guide with us in the back seat the whole time.
‘The forests of Laos were stunning and the people were lovely. They had very little but were happy. The sun setting over the Gobi desert is an experience I will never forget.’
Mr Raven estimated the trip cost £10,000. At one point the couple encountered some stick-wielding men, whom they took to be bandits, while travelling through India.
Mr Raven said: ‘In China we were required to stick to an agreed route and we were needed an official guide with us in the back seat the whole time.
‘The forests of Laos were stunning and the people were lovely. They had very little but were happy. The sun setting over the Gobi desert is an experience I will never forget.’
Mr Raven estimated the trip cost £10,000. At one point the couple encountered some stick-wielding men, whom they took to be bandits, while travelling through India.
Mr Raven said: ‘We started to drive at night in India, because we didn't have much time left and we wanted to see so much. One night, we found ourselves travelling along a road which we were told was particularly dangerous.
‘We were the only ones on the road. Suddenly, I saw a road block of piles of tyres in the way. As we got nearer I saw it was manned by several men with sticks.
‘I just put my foot down and drove straight through. The men hit the car with their sticks, but I did not stop.
‘We were the only ones on the road. Suddenly, I saw a road block of piles of tyres in the way. As we got nearer I saw it was manned by several men with sticks.
‘I just put my foot down and drove straight through. The men hit the car with their sticks, but I did not stop.
Despite being stuck in the car together for hours at a time, the couple say they did not argue once.
‘When you take on a big challenge you can't help but unite,’ said Mrs Raven. ‘We took it in turns driving and reading the map and we just worked as a team - people won't believe us but we didn't fight at all.’
The couple are planning on making a similar journey next year, and hope to raise money for charity on their next drive.
Mr Raven said: ‘I am already missing it and I would love to go on a similar journey again - I could go again tomorrow.’
‘When you take on a big challenge you can't help but unite,’ said Mrs Raven. ‘We took it in turns driving and reading the map and we just worked as a team - people won't believe us but we didn't fight at all.’
The couple are planning on making a similar journey next year, and hope to raise money for charity on their next drive.
Mr Raven said: ‘I am already missing it and I would love to go on a similar journey again - I could go again tomorrow.’
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