The Journey of Discovery Continues
The Journey of Discovery is now well under way and continues on its countdown to Beijing. Take a look at our interactive map to visualise the Journey so far and the various pit-stops. Here’s an update on the progress of the Journey and some very special highlights.
Birmingham to Geneva
After months of preparation, the first leg of the Journey began and took the team from Land Rover’s home in Solihull to Geneva, the home of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Whilst at Geneva, the 1,000,000th Discovery made a pit-stop at The Geneva Motor Show in order to join heritage models from the past 23 years, where they celebrated Land Rover’s continuous achievements in all-terrain capability. AtGeneva, the Journey of Discovery received its official global send-off. Here’s how the action unfolded:
Avalanche training in Pila, Aosta Valley
WithGenevareceding in the mirrors, the Journey of Discovery took to the slopes of Pila in the Aosta Valley, Italy where the team discovered the secrets of avalanche control. 20 kilos of explosives detonated a perfectly controlled mini avalanche. The team were joined by Ambassador Ben Saunders, a man well-versed in all matters of snow and survival, and cameraman Johno Verity, who himself has survived an avalanche. Here’s what they had to say:
Austrian Alps to Budapest
After tackling varying and challenging conditions in the Austrian Alps, The Journey of Discovery headed East though the wide flatlands and through the beautiful and vibrant City of Budapest, escorted by Police Outriders.
Budapest to Kiev to Odessa to Sevastopol
Having travelled through some of Europe’s most iconic cities, taking on snow and ice in the Alps and then through the flat lands on the outskirts of Budapest, the Journey of Discovery reached the Ukraine, making good progress en route to Beijing. From the Ukrainian capital Kiev, the team then travelled to the resort of Odessa then around the Black Sea to Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula. The four Land Rover Discovery vehicles followed Ukraine’s equivalent of Route 66 – the 1,500-mile-long E95, which runs from Merzifon in Turkey to St Petersburg in Russia.
Russia – underground nuclear submarine base
The Journey of Discovery eventually arrived in Russia, visiting some incredible places on the way. A special highlight was exploring a massive underground nuclear submarine base. Built into a mountainside to hide the Russian Black Sea fleet,Balaklavawas the core outpost of the Russian Cold War effort. Back then, “outsiders” couldn’t get close. Now, the Journey of Discovery has driven right through it.
Russia
After an incredibly busy week encompassing everything from a nuclear submarine base, scrumptious gingerbread in Tula and an interesting insight into Russia’s motoring history, the Journey of Discovery stopped off in Moscow.
Ever onward, the Journey of Discovery will now be travelling over some challenging terrain as it heads for Kazakhstan.
As you’ve seen, this remarkable journey from Birmingham to Beijing is traversing some of the world’s toughest terrain with the aim of raising £1million for the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Land Rover’s Global Humanitarian Partner. The money raised will support a long-term water sanitation project in Uganda. Please take the time to follow the progress of the expedition and learn how to donate to the IFRC at www.landrover.com/million.
Follow the Journey on our interactive map and make a donation here.
