Of Gravel, Sandstorms and Camel Toes

Almost time to say goodbye to Mongolia. It was a interesting experience and a hard nut to crack. After 700km of dirt roads we are now relaxing iin Ulangoom a small town two days  of gravel and a few river crossings from the Russian border. 

Our abodel is creatively called the Chengis Hotel. 

We are following the northern route through Mongolia which is more scenic than the southern route. The latter goes through more of the Gobi desert and is paved. If you want to see this northern scenery don't try to do it from a bike. Maybe from a camel. Even better look at on Google earth in the luxury of your armchair at home.

Conditions varied from mud, hard packed sand, dirt, loose sand and corrugation. I have learnt many new Mongolian words to use on these roads. They all start with f...If the devil should ever decide to build a highway in hell. He could ask the Chinese to build it from the Norhern Mongolian model.

The motto of this week was: If you thought  things can't get worse they generally did.

In the bush camps we had sub zero morning temperatures and sveltering afternoons making for difficult sleeping conditions. One would go to bed at 30 deg C and wake up a few hours later at -3. 

On the road there was no entertainment so the only thing was to make your own.

One boner, but how many camel toes?

Some creative flagging. The orange tape is used to give us directions everyday. Although most days it would be enough to say turn right out of camp and ride until you see us again.

This is the fluffy animal that I thought was a cow. Turns out that it was a yak.

Cattle watching was getting more scarce but I realized again It's a cow eat cow world.

The Mingolian towns have corlourful roofs but no pink ones.

Barefoot and not pregnant in the kitchen of an unknown lady inviting me for coffee.

One night the mother of all sand storms broke lose. This was accompanied by hurricane winds, rain and lightning. Lots of tents were destroyed, possessions were blown away and people were trucked to a dorm in a small town close by.

This person doesn't have a Hilleberg so he had to stand outside and anchor it for dear life.

After six days of gravel we had paved road for 15km. I had to kiss it. Mecca is the other way.