Day 27. Wednesday. June 15.

 Kosh Agach to Chibit.

Distance:  93 km

Cumulative Distance: 2762 km

Time: 3 hrs  59 min

Speed:  23.4 km/hr

Feet Climbed today: 1980

Cumulative Climb: 58,392  ft 

AHR (Average Heart Rate) 108 bpm

Punctures so far: 2.     

Altitude tonight: 3923 ft

Back to the rain. That and scenery feels a lot more familiar than high deserts and tracks of Mongolia.

Breakfast was at a later than usual 6.30 as a result of yesterday's late conclusion. Our clocks have moved another hour back but I neglected to change time on my phone and so arose at 4.30 am. Great to be up at the crack of dawn ! Just about that time strong gust of wind swept up the valley and blew one cyclists helmet into the fast flowing river, the Chuja. Bye, bye. She had erected her tent right on the bank.

Riders Meeting at 6.30 was short, no great directional complications. Follow the main road for 92 km and turn into camp on the left. Breakfast wasn't disturbed by any mosquitos but the headwind up the valley was a worry.

All was dry as we hit the road but the wind intensified over the first 10 km....the valley was very narrow at this point. At times it swirled and swept in dangerously from the right. Mountains above us (foothills of the mighty Altai range) were shrouded in cloud and a darker greyer version of cloud waited for us way ahead. Today's ride was generally downhill as we followed our river, sometimes a sudden drop and a few sharp rises for good measure.

After 30 km the rain started and took the sting out of the wind. In fact it became calm and we could concentrate just on how wet we would get. Brief patches of blue appeared out to our left and hope of better things pushed us on. Even the snow on the upper reaches catching sunshine encouraged us.

Around this point my gear shifter started to malfunction, wouldn't engage. I flagged down the van and things improved for a while. I cycled just on the middle ring for a long time. I now think that's how I attached the mirror that's causing the problem. I was worried for a while. The last wet day we had I had 2 punctures; was I to have my next trouble on the next wet day?

The road while we had visibility was interesting, twisting around between the steep sides. On occasions the valley opened out to green spaces but very few long (8km) stretches of road disappearing into the distance. 

At 42 km we cycled beneath a gate announcing a nature park and I thought the two stags/antelopes looked similar to the Kilfeacle crest.

Rain eased off just before we reached lunch at 62 km but as soon as we were under the shelter of the canopy the heavens opened. Lucky us ! (we are now back to the full complement of 4. Joan cycled the off-road on her own; bit nervous on descents especially)

From lunch till 79 km through the most scenic parts of the valley (from glimpses we had) the heavens opened but at least the road kept dropping. At one point when it eased off I looked back to view it through the breaking cloud. Would love to travel it on a pleasant day.

All along this part my only worry was putting up the tent in the rain and trying to dry things out. Passing through the town of Aktash (where we stopped for coffee) rain eased off and finally stopped. I noticed yesterday that petrol/ diesel is cheaper here than at home, around 50 cent/ litre.

Just 12 km to go to camp and as we moved along clothes started to dry out and things were beginning to look up. But just 2 km from camp down it came again and back to square one. 

A slight change in camping spot, we are camping in an official campsite and Mike, Frieder and I (we arrived at mid-day) took a cabin (with heater) for the night - roof over our heads, chance to dry things out and charge electrical system, and all for about 6 Euro each. Why wouldn't we. But some put up their tents and just used the covered timber camp shelter to dry out.

Our triangular cabin (No 18) is right on the bank of the raging Chuga river (would be perfect for rafting) and just a stone’s throw from our camp kitchen, where the hot soup was most nourishing after the wetting.

 Good chance now to relax for the afternoon and listen to the grumbling of the river outside and start out tomorrow morning in dry gear.

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