Wk 33: Old Military Rd, Thwarted by too much snow on mtn passes: Stuck again - we had to turn around on…

Leaving Batumi, Pooh perched snugly in his seat beside us, we set out for Ushguli—the world’s oldest continuously inhabited town. The plan was simple, - get there, - but Georgia had other ideas. As we climbed higher into the mountains, the snow thickened, swallowing the road and cutting us off just 16 kilometres from our goal. Trapped on a steep hillside at -5°C, we had no choice but to set up camp for the night.

Pooh wasted no time burrowing into Janelle’s sleeping bag, claiming the warmest spot before anyone else could. He’s no fool! Meanwhile, we cracked open a bottle of Jameson’s whiskey, its amber glow a welcome reprieve from the icy chill. With each sip, the fiery warmth spread through us, keeping the frost at bay, and warmth in the heart.

Morning came quickly, and with it, the daunting task of retreating down the mountain. The snow had transformed the rugged path into a treacherous gauntlet, and as fate would have it, disaster struck. A jagged rock tore the undercarriage from the Rav4, leaving it stranded on the pass. I had to trudge back to retrieve it—only to find it irreparably damaged.

Back on the road, disaster nearly loomed again. Coming around a sharp bend onto a bridge, we suddenly skidded on black ice, sliding uncontrollably toward an oncoming car, as he slid toward us!  Time seemed to freeze as we careened closer, heartbeats thundering in our ears. Then, miraculously, the car halted just a foot away from his car, alleviating disaster. 

The snow wasn’t done with us yet. Just 5.9 kilometres from our next turnoff, we were thwarted again—our third failed mountain pass attempt. What should have been a quick two-hour journey stretched into a gruelling five-hour ordeal. Finally, we arrived in Tbilisi, worn but victorious.

On to the Old Military Road The next day, we tackled the famous Old Military Road, a breathtaking route that snakes up to the Russian border. The scenery was incredible—snow-capped peaks piercing the sky, valleys carved by time—but the road was a maze of trucks. For 15 kilometres, semis idled bumper to bumper, their drivers waiting days for their turn to cross the border Into Russia.  I imagine it would have been the same on the other side of the border as well.  

Unable to enter Russia, we took the icy Larsi Pass instead, engaging 4-wheel drive to navigate the treacherous stretch. At one point, we came across a stranded truck spinning its wheels helplessly in the frozen ruts. He was going nowhere.  

The road demanded every ounce of focus and skill, but the views made it all worthwhile.

Repairs and Refuge Back in Tbilisi, it was time for repairs. Toyota Tbilisi, handling an astounding 150 vehicles a day, squeezed us into their schedule to fix the undercarriage and replace filters. Their efficiency was unmatched, and we left with a renewed sense of confidence in our trusty Rav4.  Mind you that was because Pooh supervised the proceedings. (See his article)

Armenia and Snowbound Drama We left Tbilisi and the journey continued into Armenia, where the border temperature plummeted to -6°C. We had to smuggle Pooh through, as his lack of a passport made things… complicated shall we say.  He seemed to find the whole ordeal hilarious, smugly tucked away while we navigated customs.

As if snowbound passes were a recurring theme, we soon

found ourselves stuck again—this time on Jradzor Pass in Armenia.   All the while I had ringing in my ears, Pooh’s comment about how he could have driven better. 

The wind howled like a banshee, whipping snow into icy daggers that stung our faces. Temperatures plunged to a bone-chilling -7°C, with the wind chill factor making it feel closer to -17°C.

Out came The trax and the shovel. While I dug tirelessly, Janelle worked the Rav4, coaxing it free inch by inch. Wheels spun, engines roared, and finally, we broke through the snow’s icy grip. Great job Janelle.  

The Trax, however, had vanished, buried under nearly two feet of snow. I had to unearth them with hands that felt like frozen claws, while Pooh sat inside, smugly laughing and offering his “expert advice.”

You ever have that feeling where you just want to throttle someone? Yeah, that was me.

A Night in Gyulagarak Defeated by the pass but not the journey, we retreated to the small town of Gyulagarak for the night, exhausted but alive. 

The hotel V & V Hotel, is simply amazing.  So much so, we have stayed 3 nights here in the warmth and luxury of our cottage.

This week was a brutal reminder of the challenges we face on this epic adventure, but also of the grit, determination, and teamwork that keep us moving forward.

Every obstacle is a lesson, every hardship a story, and every moment a testament to what’s possible when you refuse to quit. That’s the journey we’re on—one of persistence, resilience, and triumph.

Where will the road take us next? 

Where are we going to spend Christmas?  We still don’t know.   

Stay tuned, and join us as we keep forging ahead.