Day 23. Friday June 10.

 Lizard Bush Camp to Ulaangom.

Distance:  86 km

Cumulative Distance: 2492 km

Time: 5 hrs 27 min

Speed:  15.8 km/hr

Feet Climbed today: 733

Cumulative Climb: 48,523  ft 

AHR (Average Heart Rate) 112 bpm

Punctures so far: 2.     

Altitude tonight: 3109 ft

Great sleep last night and no interference from our friendly lizards. Felt ready for the final push into Ullangom and the prospect of a Rest Day. It was an extremely mild morning and I started off with a layer less than on previous days.

Shortly after 6.30 we (Mike, Frieder and I) pulled out onto the road and for the first few kilometres quite a few riders occupied the space. It normally takes awhile for the various groups to divide up....except for the speedsters who rush breakfast and tear off as if this is a race; maybe they are having an unofficial battle for podium positions! The first 15 km was fine and acceptable as offroad; it was possible to find a smoothish path by switching from track to track. But one had to keep eyes on the road; not a time for taking out the camera.  

After 15 km till 70 km it was hell. Washboard and sand and continually switching from left to right (100m) to find an easier path. By lunch time everyone was jaded and all had been asking themselves the question “Why, Why am I doing this?”

Along this stretch it was billard table flat. Those a few kilometres in front never disappeared out of sight. Totally flat to the left and right; nothing to distract. Far out to the right was Uvs Nuur, the largest lake in Mongolia covering 3400 sq metres but only with a depth of 12 m. It's saline and 5 times saltier than ocean water, with no edible fish and no outlet. It's rich in bird life but with clouds of mosquitoes. It just appeared as a blue horizontal streak with mountains in the far-off background.

After about 30 km Mike and Frieder fell behind and I ploughed on. They arrived as I was ready to leave lunch. No one was awfully keen to leave the haven of the lunch stop, knowing that only more punishment was in store.

Not a lot of animals in this part of the high desert; not a lot of gers either. Spotted a herd of camels being tended by a young girl. They didn't look too healthy in terms of coat or condition.

At 70 km a bridge appeared in the distance and from today's directions I knew that was the start of the paved road into Ullangom. Sheer pleasure.

Once on the pavement I gave her leather and pounded the pedals to block out the memory of the previous torturous 70 km. I passed a few cyclists and motored up the 2 hills over the last 10 km into Ullangom.

Passed through the city gate and there was the city below me with a backdrop of mountains 10,000 ft high capped with snow.

Didn't take too long to locate the hotel and arrived at Chinngis Hotel at 1.30. (It's never Gingis Khan here but Chinngis) Glad to be in to rest for the rest of the day and tomorrow.

Being in early I was there while water was available, but no towels. The shower and shave was a simple pleasure, but no towels. Had to use my travel towel. In time towels arrived but then the city's water supply went down and late-comers had to wait a few hours. Hotels here don't get an influx of guests like this every day.

Started to reorganise bags, get laundry done, upload the blogs of the last few days and charge the various devices. I'm now ready to relax and rest before the next part.

Two more days of off-road. By that time we’ll have done over 1100 km of tough off-road here in Mongolia i.e from Mizen up to Malin Head and back to Tipp.

Ah well, all part of the adventure.

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