Day 16. Thursday June 2.

Day 16. River Camp to Mongol Valley Bush Camp 7.

Distance:  137 km

Cumulative Distance: 1854 km

Time: 6 hrs 31 min

Speed:  21 km/hr

Feet Climbed today: 3451

Cumulative Climb: 35,527 ft 

AHR (Average Heart Rate) 98 bpm

Punctures so far: 2.     

Altitude tonight: 3603 ft.

Had a good nights sleep in the River Campsite and all battery cells were topped up for today's ride. Can't say the same for the camera; battery is almost spent and just had a hour or so on charge during breakfast. So, I need to be more sparing using it. That wasn't such a problem today as scenery was much the same as yesterday.

(As I write this in the tent at 7.40 pm here in Mongol Valley Bush Camp) a strong wind is blowing outside and thunder rumbling overhead. #? rain yet but I expect we'll have our fill before the night is out. Correction: it has just started.)

Started out by crossing the Selange River and settling into a stiff pull till the 20 km mark. Lovely quiet road as it stretched way out in front; didn't see a car for that first 20 km. In fact little traffic all day again.

Had another climb, the largest of the day from 25 to 60 km at a pretty steady 3%.

Still herdsmen were out guiding their flocks to fresher pastures, sometimes crossing the road in front of us.

But from 60 to 70 km we had a glorious compensating downhill with the kms passing ever so rapidly.

Along this part and in so many places today the dirt tracks that were utilised before the construction of the sealed road were visible stretching at least 100 m on each side of the present road. This time last year we would have been cycling on these.

Lunch was at 77.5 km and at this point (10 30) temperatures were rising calling for another application of sun cream. Mike and Frieder opted to wait longer for ice-cream in the nearby hotel/mini-market and as Joan had already gone ahead, I said I’d push on and that they’d catch up. I didn't see them for the rest of the day till camp. I quite enjoyed the cycling alone for a change. No great wind so no need for a rotation. The silence all about was something else - not a sound of traffic or machinery in the distance, very little bird-song and just the bleating of sheep and goats now and again.

From lunch it was straight into a 20 km pull to a high point just above 4000 ft. Sun was high in the sky now and sheep and goats availed of the little shade around. I envied them!

At this point trees have disappeared from the hills, those pine trees that gave yesterday that Black Forest look. Trees and rich growth now is to be seen in the distance by the river.

I arrived in camp shortly after 2 pm and the heat from then till after dinner was sapping. I erected the tent but did little else during that period.

Arrival in camp each day is followed by the compulsory washing of hands and a pot of hot soup. Most welcome but needing a bit of shade to enjoy it.

At 6 pm Riders Meeting is called for some housekeeping and then advice/ directions about tomorrow's route. The route and profile is up on the board when,  we come into camp so plenty of time to take it down (unlike last year when it was guarded like a secret till the last minute and then a rush to take it down). The different scales make the profile look daunting but having that profile with the distance markers in front of you (I clip mine onto the brake cables) is a great help and guards against expecting the top to be just around the next corner.

No reception out here in Mogul Valley so this post is coming to you a bit late.

Tomorrow, Friday, is our last day on road till the Russian border. So 13 days of off-road. How exciting!

But a Rest Day to look forward to on Saturday to wind up for that.

(That thunder, strong winds and rain lasted for just an hour. Calmer now. Here's hoping for a pleasant night.)

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