J33P welcomes guest Privacy Statement
Contact Classifieds Events Forums FAQ Features Home Login
Fun Links Register Reports Rides Sponsor Suppliers
Back Fae Baku - The Long Way Home
by Martin Wallek, March 2009

 

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 fiancée. This was the way things happened over there, once they got a hold of you (the company that is, not my fiancée), 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.

I’ve 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). I’ve 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 I’m 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. I’ve spent a lot of time and money on my Jeep, and there is no way I’m going to sell it to anyone. This is the car I’m driving home with.

My cousin Alan also works in Baku, living here with his wife and daughter. For the last 2 years we have been modifying his Jeep for four-wheeling. He shares the same feeling as me with regards to selling his jeep. Alan will drive his Jeep home too with his best friend Baz (Alan Forsyth) We are calling our adventure “Back Fae Baku”.

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 didn’t ask me, he told me! You can’t argue with your father now, can you? To be honest, I can’t think of anyone else I would have by my side on this exciting journey. We started to think seriously about this trip in January of this year and have been working hard thinking of things we need to do and take with us. In an effort to share our adventure with people we are raising money for two Charities - funds raised locally in Baku will be donated to The IWC (International Womans Club, Baku) who will distribute food clothing to the kids of all the local orphanages around Baku who desperately need financial support. For the funds raised outside of Baku, we have set up a Justgiving website to donate to Cancer Research.

We plan to start our adventure on the15th July 2009. The countries we will drive through for the first 10 days are:

  1. Azerbaijan
  2. Georgia across the Caucasus Mountains
  3. Turkey taking the Black Sea coast road
  4. Bulgaria over the Balkan Mountains
  5. Romania over the Transylvanian Alps (spending the night as close to Dracula’s castle) and then continue over the Carpathian Mountains
  6. Budapest, Hungary for the evening of the 25th and have a day off from driving and watch the F1 Grand Prix, (we are F1 fans)

Starting off again on 26th July through:

  1. Slovakia
  2. Czech Republic
  3. Germany
  4. Luxembourg
  5. Belgium
  6. Northern France
  7. Through the Chunnel (only part we don’t drive obviously) and as far up through England and then hopefully home to Bonnie Scotland, (if Alan’s car doesn’t breakdown)

From when we leave Baku, we will have gone through 14 countries and driven almost 4500 miles. For more details of the trip you can visit our BackFaeBaku website. Additionally you read about our vehicles by going to Martin’s and Alan’s J33P ride pages.