Day 14. Tuesday May 31.

  Tull River Camp 5 to Bulgan (Bush Camp 6)

Distance:  105 km

Cumulative Distance: 1588 km

Time: 6 hrs 24 min

Speed:  16.3 km/hr

Feet Climbed today: 2287

Cumulative Climb: 34,656 ft 

AHR (Average Heart Rate) 98 bpm

Punctures so far: 2.     

Altitude tonight: 3917 ft

Another day totally off-road but different in many ways. There was just one long 6 km climb near the end which brought us to a viewpoint over Bulgan. It wasn't in the same league as the two yesterday in terms of surface or gradient.

Once we left camp shortly after 6 am and crossed the bridge over the Tull River the road began to rise but just gradually.

Road conditions today were the same as yesterday - packed dirt or gravel. On the packed dirt (clay) it was possible to reach up to 25 km/ hr. Those corrugated parts were to be avoided. One one such stretch I was confronted with them covering the full width of the road. I quickly decided to veer to the left and hit a deep pile of gravel. The wheels went from under me and down I came. Nothing serious only a graze to the knee. Didn’t interfere with the rest of the day. At the 65 km point we ran into stretches with lots of sand. To hit the sand with the front wheel sucked out all forward momentum while catching it with just the back wheel caused the vehicle to dangerously fish-tail. Joan came a cropper here just behind us but just a few cuts and bruises.

Again road often split into many parts and each of us taking a different line. All would eventually converge soon and we (Mike, Fieder and I) rejoined to tackle the next piece.

Generally the fresher paths through the fields were free from the corrugations. No matter which path you took animals just wandered across (or were driven across) in front of us. At other times it was just a matter of dismounting and porter in the bike through.

The road (off-road) that we have cycled on for the last two days is a numbered road (A0901) and when viewed on the map seems to be a main thoroughfare.

Lots more trees visible today here in central Mongolia especially high on the slopes. The hills took on a craggier aspect with rock strata visiblet. There has been rain recently here and growth at a more advanced stage than previously. Flowers (iris) are abundant and the cultivated areas are showing produce.

Went to inspect one such area and it just seems that it’s grass rather than grain. Could be wrong! We passed through one plain today between two ranges of hills that was the size of a small county. That was at about 10 am and the scenery was just beautiful. This is scenery that the commercial tourist never lays eyes on.

Lunch was under a crag near a river and again the local herder with horse dropped in, had a bite to eat but left just after we arrived (70 km done).

We paused for a while on the bridge over Okron Gol (Okron River). It had its fair share of fish visible. It flows northwards and empties into Lake Baikal in Russia, one of the largest reservoirs of fresh water in the world. Fishing (trout) is big in Northern Mongolia. Anglers also fish for taimen, a salmon type that grows to 1.5.m long and can live for 50 years. Catch and release is mandatory.

 In Okron we also called into a small local shop (very small) and had a bottle of cherry flavoured ice-tea. The owner explained that he was Russian, not Mongolian. He showed great interest in my bike, especially the bike- computer.

After 100 km at the top of that climb we had a noble view of Bulgan with a glorious skyscape of fluffy white clouds.

Just a freewheel down (still on gravel and clay) and our campsite is located just short of the Town Gate. Bulgan is a laid-back town of 11,000 where a horseman is as likely to be seen in the street as a vehicle.

We arrived here at 3 pm and the heat from then till now (8 pm) was draining and little shade available. To lie in the tent was like being in an oven. Can’t wait till the sun goes down and the atmosphere is more refreshing.

A great refreshing day off-road, it redeemed the throes of yesterday. Back to paved roads tomorrow.

Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.