Day 20. Tuesday June 7.

River Camp to Tes Bush Camp 10.

Distance: 124 km

Cumulative Distance: 2305 km

Time: 7 hrs 52 min

Speed:  15.7 km/hr

Feet Climbed today: 3042

Cumulative Climb: 47,255  ft 

AHR (Average Heart Rate) 110 bpm

Punctures so far: 2.     

Altitude tonight: 4221 ft

First let me wish all those starting their Leaving and Junior Certain exams tomorrow every success. Keep at it and don't give up the effort.

Today was a tough day as promised. Some just rode to lunch, some took the van to camp and others were picked up along the route. I cycled the full route.

This morning was much milder than yesterday morning with more clouds in the sky. Tent was dry and ready for packing. For breakfast we had hot porridge; the breakfast we should have had yesterday. Pleasant to sit around outside and chat about the day ahead.

Came across a family erecting a ger this morning near the campsite. Doesn't take long to erect. Came across another family en route to a new location with all the had on the back of a small truck. Later in the day I spotted a family just putting the finishing touches to their new location.

Today's surface was difficult to deal with. It was predominantly washboard and sand. Cycling on the washboard (corrugations) couldn't be avoided - it was like cycling on a tubular cattle grid from Tipp to Cork. Sometimes it was an option to take the motorbike single track but it demanded more concentration. The last 25 km was especially difficult in this respect when I was most fatigued.

Sand (as fine as sea sand) was another factor in today's ride. It put a stop to all movement and when deep it meant just dismounting. On occasions then washboard and sand combined to punish us. (I started the day with Mike and Frieder but dropped them on the first climb up to 58 km. Mike took the van from lunch.) Frieder caught up with me in Tes as I picked up a Coke and a beer for camp. We cycled into camp just a km further on to cheers from the early arrivals.

We had 3 stiff climbs today on this awful off-road surface, at 58 km, at 95 km and a very stiff on at 101 km. For this last one it was a matter of walking the last 500 m. Luckily the van was waiting at the top to replenish water supplies. When one climb was finished, the long road ahead to the next one opened up ahead.

Again a few stream crossings. At the largest one I opted to have a go at cycling through knowing that the feet would get wet. The promised heat later on would dry the out. Got through on the first attempt.

Came through just 2 towns today, Bayantes and Tes just back the road. Flagging was good in both cases. Out of Bayantes it was straight into a climb up by rocky outcrops.

For the last 3 km there was a nice drop down into Tes (with washboard). I stopped there at the local shop and cooled down with a Coke. As I drank, a family came by and engaged in conversation in spite of language differences. The mother was Mongolian but the child had a Russian father. We're only 20 km from Russia here in Tes.

Glad to get into camp at 4.15. It gave me  couple of hours to attend to tent and to enjoy soup and a cool beer.

Was very hot but a sudden shower came just at the end of dinner but made little impact on the surface of the ground.

Looking forward to lying down in the cool tent and get a refreshing sleep to boost energy for tomorrow's ride.

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