Rest Day. 3/11. Ullanbaatar ( Mongolia)

      Ullanbaatar (Mongolia)

A most welcome Rest Day after crossing the Gobi. We have come to the end of Stage 1 of the expedition ’The Great Wall’. Some riders finished here and some 4 new cyclists join the caravan.

The chance to sleep in a bed last night was reviving although was down for a lovely pretty traditional breakfast before 8 am.

I think I'm getting soft as I entrusted all my washing to the hotel service. Handed it in at 10 o’clock and delivered back to the room at 5.

Had a bit of shopping to do, not only for the next 6 days (with 5 nights bush camping) but also for some gear.

My old bag was beginning to disintegrate so now I have a brilliant green one with my favourite identifying woollen headband.

Also I have escaped being soaked by rain without a good waterproof jacket so now I’ll be dry and definitely be visible to all. Mind you, it cost almost half a million.

Today was principally one of rest and preparation so I didn't do much of the tourist things.

On my way back from my purchases I noticed crowds and music in Ghinngis Khan Square (the centre of the city). I made my way to the top where all the action was. Apparently today is the Festival of the Glorious Mongolian Soldier. It was a stationary military parade with various companies demonstrating their drills and marching. All was being televised and shown on a big screen.

Crowds consisting of veterans and town groups viewed the proceedings with pride. At the other end of the square the public and especially kids handled army guns and equipment.

The mighty statue of Ghinngis Khan himself presided over all.

Ghinngis Khan (considered the Father of Mongolia and almost a deity)established the Mongol empire around 1200 by conquest, intimidation and alliances.at its height it stretched from the Pacific to Eastern Europe, the largest contiguous empire in history. Their mastery of horse craft contributed in no small way to building such an empire. By all accounts Ghinngis had red hair, green eyes and was afraid of dogs. Before capturing a city he gave then one chance to concede, if not he conquered it and killed the richest inhabitants as being the most worthless and dangerous. Strangely, he established. The concept of diplomatic immunity and arranged his troops on the basis of 10 - a squad of 10, 10 squads to form a company, 10 companies to form a battalion and 10 battalions to form an army of 10,000 troops.

Ulaanbaatar has a population of 1.2 million, almost half of the country. It was developed by the Soviets from the 1940’s, but now there is a great building program fuelled by the mining boom. Many people around the edge of the city still live in ger parks and the only form of heating is coal fires. Hence, the city has the most polluted atmosphere in winter; the air thick with smog. No fear of that these days with those winds.

From now on (apart from the 40 km out of the city) we will spend long stretches off-road and so everyone changed to wider tyres. I removed the 28’s and put on the 35’s. Also on the tracks I’ll reduce the pressure to assist traction. And the bike needed a good clean-up and oiling after the Gobi. Lots of red dust in the strangest of places.

And for dinner this evening, a group of us went to the local Grand Khan Irish Pub. I checked and no Irish staff member, not an Irish manager, no fraught Guinness, no Irish connection at all, not even an Irish flag. There was an Irish lamb stew on the menu but I went for the steak.....and it was nice and tender.

So all is packed now and ready for the next stage, The Mongol Empire, till June 18 when we arrive in Gorno Altysk in Russia. Looking to the adventure, although I know it’ll be tough and demanding.

Keep the comments coming. They help.

Thank God for a lovely day.