Day 7. Sunday. May 22.

 

Erleanhaote(China) to Valley Camp (Mongolia

Distance:  67 km)

Cumulative Distance: 746 km

Time: 4 hrs 43 min

Speed:  14.3 km/hr

Feet Climbed:  1883

Cumulative Climb: 15,398 ft 

AHR (Average Heart Rate) 116 bpm

Punctures: 0.     

Altitude tonight: 3742 ft 

A new country and a tough day, one of the toughest day's cycling I’ve ever done. Strong headwind all day.

Had a good nights sleep, patterns returned to normal. This morning the wind had gone but it was raining, had been raining heavy during the night.

All bags and bikes had to be loaded onto two coaches to cross the border, cannot walk or cycle across. We arrived at the Chinese exit before opening at 9 am. The complete process (luggage security check, passport control, immigration) took about 90 mins. Could have been much longer according to reports. The Chinese officials were intrigued by our group (possibly because we all carried our luggage, not a wheel in sight) and requested us to pose for a group photo before we left the building. Also changed all remaining Yuan to Mongolian Togrog (1 Euro = 2400 Tog)

Now in Mongolia, the second of this five country adventure. It’Lloyd take us 23 days to cross this country which is 3 times the size of France but with only 3.5 million people. Easy to believe that from what we saw today, hardly saw one human habitation along the route.

All luggage now off the coaches and into our new convoy of 5 Mongolian jeeps. They'll be with us till we enter Russia.

So at the late hour of 11.30 all was in order to hit the road, only one highway between here and the capital,Ulaanbaatar nearly 600 km to the north west.

It was into the desert straight away. From here to Ulaanbaatar we cross the Gobi Desert which accounts for 56% of the country. Our route doesn't cross the typical ’Lawerence of Arbia’ sand dunes (in the south). Here there's plenty of rocks also. But it's desert out to the left and out to the right.

The train (Trans Mongolian) kept presence on our right all day. It faces a long delay at the Chinese border. Russia and Mongolia share the same gauge tracks but China is different. So, there is at least an hours delay at the border as the bogies are changed. Over the last hundred years Mongolia has aligned itself more with Russia than with China.

Shortly after a toll station Mongolia, not to eat out done by China has its own gate featuring the national crest and camels. Definitely a photo op.

Today was intended to just over 100 km but the headwind hampered progress so much that camp was called at 67 km. But what a 67 km! It was punishing from start to finish. Not a screed of shelter; nowhere to hide out here. Generally progress on level ground was about 15 km/her with effort. On the 2% downslopes pedalling was demanded to reach 20 km/her. At that speed in today's conditions, that felt like the speed of light. I made a good few short stops to cope with the situation.

In places I had spotted hoof marks that could only belong to a camel, but not a sign of one till just before lunch at 40km. There they were out to the left grazing to replenish energy. These two-humped Bactrian camels can last a week without water and a month without food and still carry vast loads. Will probably see lots more over the next week.

Lunch was very very welcome. Again it was out in open country. But, today we were spared sand on the table. But just two well-stocked sandwiches, a drink and a. Nance to sit on a different shaped seat was a tonic. More cyclists were coming in as I. prepared to depart

Traffic on the road was light and varied. A number of mining dumper trucks passed by. These deserts may look barren on top but great riches of uranium, gold and copper and other minerals are present beneath. Unfortunately most of the ore is being exported unrefined to China.

Another unusual type of traffic was the hundreds of Toyota Prius cars (unregistered) going towards Ulaanbaatar. I presume they are being imported and being driven to agents/dealers in the capital.

Occasionally evidence of water appeared in the sight of dried up river beds and also hollows with pools of water and some growth around.

Turning a slow corner or resting a rise just brought a view of the same all over again, and no sign of a change in the wind.

Camp appeared at 67 km and soon tents were up - pick your own pitch. Camp dinner at 7 but it's up at 5 in the morning to start all over again. It's cold tonight and if I were at home, I’d be lighting a fire (and that wind is still at it).

Another day of an adventurous challenging nature and a night under the stars. All part of the experience.

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