Fun fact, I love The Grand Tour! Truly this silly blog post can only exist in the midst of a “stay-at-home” order. I hope you enjoy!

Last night, my husband and I hysterically watched The Grand Tour Mongolia Special, and couldn’t help but notice similarities to my pregnancy.

Please enjoy the humor and know I do acknowledge the gravity of the situation; but, especially in hard times, we need laughter. I hope this light-hearted article brightens your day and that you decided to watch The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime!

“Survival of the Fattest: Mongolia Special”

To begin, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and (my favorite) James May venture through the breathtaking backcountry of the Central Asian nation of Mongolia. Their disassembled mode of transportation humorously drops out of the sky, as large crates parachuted from a helicopter. Over the course of the next 7 days, the three friends seek to find the city of Moron. And so the adventure begins!

No Alcohol!?!

This moment has me laughing every time!

On the Grand Tour Mongolia episode, Jeremy is flabbergasted! While frantically rummaging through the provisions dropped by the helicopter, the three friends shockingly discover there is no alcohol! I laughed so hard at their fear of 7 whole days spent without alcohol! By no means am I drinker like the trio of Clarkson, Hammond, and May, but I do enjoy a drink every now and then.

Last summer, my husband and I actually decided to temporarily abstain from alcohol during his final stage of training in Pensacola, Florida. Then we joyfully found out we were with child! So when our little boy is born in June, it will be just short of a whole year without alcohol. Truly, I’m excited for Richard Hammond’s favorite Lime Gin & Tonic or some warm rich whiskey! (Check out my recipes: “Gin, Tonic, and Top Gear ~ Four Recipes“)

With laughter and while shaking my head, I slightly sympathized with the three amigos!

All Alone!?!

This is actually the first realization made by Clarkson. There is a staggering lack of people in Mongolia. There is literally no one!

As of 2019, Mongolia’s population is about 3.17 million. Let me first put this number in perspective. “Mongolia’s land area is roughly equivalent to that of the countries of western and central Europe” combined (Encyclopedia Britannica). That is a gigantic country! Mongolia is statistically the least densely populated nation! “Just 5 people per square mile!” (World Population Review).

As my husband and I sat alone having not seen friends for about a month, we chuckled and sympathized with the vast loneliness! We are hundreds of miles away from family. Additionally, we are still relatively new to the migrant middle of nowhere town of Kingsville, TX. Then add COVID-19 panic and “stay-at-home” orders, it’s pretty lonely.

Build it Yourself!?!

Part of the producer challenge on The Grand Tour Mongolia Special Edition included the three friends building their own car. In two days, Hammond and May assembled a self-built-off-roader!

I am still amazed at their accomplishment! To my delight, they even named their trusty little vehicle. “What a machine you are John!!” “John the Mountaineer of many places!” “The first car to ever pogo up a hill!”

In preparation for our little bundle of joy, my husband and I have been quite busy building as well. We have assembled an Ikea dresser and a cute Ikea crib. Recently, we hung bookshelves from Lowes. To my delight, my husband has been busily working with his scroll saw. He’s crafted adorable little wooden animals!

My husband has also been making 94% filtration efficient home-made-masks! Not perfect but significantly better than knitted, crocheted, and beaded masks! (Check out my article: “The Best Homemade Mask“).

Food Shortages!?!

Humorously, the inept Clarkson leaves his colleagues to assess the food supplies for their journey. To his grateful delight, he finds British Army Rations. In America, we commonly refer to this delicacy as MREs. Although some MREs are tasty surprises, some turn your stomach!

Fortunately, when COVID-19 hysteria hit, my husband and I did not panic shop or hoard at our local grocery store. Our pantry remains well-stocked. Additionally, he just killed a hog, so we are set in the meat department!

Buy American, “Buy Mongolian”

This comparison is just for a good chuckle and the trio’s humor truly makes me want to watch The Grand Tour Mongolia all over again.

Nevertheless, this pandemic reaffirmed my previous desire to try to buy local and American made products. In trying to purchase furniture for our nursery and a new couch, we affirmed the striking reality that few things are made in America. All valid discussions for another day. However, when able, I will continue to seek to “Buy American.”

Watch on Amazon Prime!

I hope you enjoyed my blog post about one of my all-time favorite Grand Tour episodes! Mongolia is absolutely stunning with geography I only hope to someday see for myself! Until then, I’ll enjoy it through the lens of Jeremy, Richard, James, and John!

Side note: As a former 4th-grade teacher, I would caution against children and possibly teenagers watching the series. Similar to any show, prior to watching with children, please research the episodes.