Day 28. Thursday. June 16.

KChibit Campsite  to Onguday Bush Camp 16

Distance:  140 km

Cumulative Distance: 2802 km

Time: 6 hrs 20 min

Speed:  22 km/hr

Feet Climbed today: 49

Cumulative Climb: 63,342  ft 

AHR (Average Heart Rate) 109 bpm

Punctures so far: 2.     

Altitude tonight: 3010 ft

Lovely weather today with temperatures at 28 when we reached camp this evening at 2.15 pm.

As we set out early this morning, I am into the second half of this trip....Day 28 of 54. Hope the second half has as many new experiences as I’ve had so far. I'm sure it’ll fly by and I’ll be home in no time and meeting up again with Helen and Conor (who has grown so much I believe) and also meet Saoirse, Oisin and Eimear home from San Jose. So I’ve two great months to look forward to.

With the clear atmosphere today, we could see all that we missed yesterday. And it was something else. Leaving the campsite we headed for the valley on the left. After a few kilometres on the M52 we entered a narrower part of the river valley as we moved along with the flow of the river Chuja.

As we progressed the river grew in size and in fury with smaller streams rushing down from higher ground. With the morning clouds hanging in the valley (we had left shortly after 5.30) I couldn't but think of that view of Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View early in the morning. Many times during the day my mind flashed back to there. We passed a few farmsteads in the narrower part but many more any time the valley broadened out.

At 38 km there was an access point to the Old Stone Road on higher ground that was one of the earliest trade routes from the east. And beneath it a memorial (I presume) to those involved in carving out the present paved road through the valley. Nearby was a signpost pointing back to Tashanta (where we entered Russia) and forward to Gorno where we next rest on Sunday.

The road continually twisted and turned beneath walls of rock sometimes dropping spectacularly and rising up again to give us a rolling descent. We didn't envy cyclists coming in the opposite direction....wonder will they take the off- road route to Ulaanbaatar ?

At 78 km just after the village of Inya we crossed over a bridge to the south side of the Chuja and turned in to the left for lunch. As we had our few sandwiches there, an artist and his friend (cameraman) pulled in. He was towing a steel (8mm) Mongolian horse from the Netherlands to Ulaanbaatar with his Lada jeep as part of an art project. I reckon ODS would have done a better job ! They shared our lunch and spoke at length of their exploits but I was wearying and feeling the momentum of the day being lost and decided to push on. Mike and Frieder stayed on for another while.

Beside us at lunch also stood the type of telephone/ electric poles that have been with us since entering Mongolia....concrete post in the ground and the timber pole lashed to it with two slings. The concrete can withstand the extreme frost in the ground over the long frozen winter months. Must say, that they look like poles on stilts.

In Russia we pass through many more villages each day than in Mongolia and they're more ’normal’ than the collection of gers. Since the border things have changed so suddenly; seems like a different world (houses, villages, terrain, greenery etc). And I notice that gardens are being tilled to produce for the house.

LHS

RHS

After lunch as I cycled along by the now mighty Chuja it did one almost 180 degree turn that took two photos to capture. (Haven't the software to stitch). It reminded me of that Schlogen Loop on the Danube two years ago. And high above on either side were morrains built by this river as it carved out its passage through the ages.

At the 102 km mark the river swung off to the right and our road turned to the left and rose to the Chike-Tamin Mountain Pass to move into the valley of the Katuna river. For a while I was stuck behind a line-marking truck with its fumes but not for long. I could see ahead the narrow valley to the pass beyond the village and now I cycled against the flow of water.  I knew that this was a 12 km climb of 1386 feet. The first kms were at a steady rise and then I came to a sign “10% for 4.3 km”. Horror! Temperature was rising but fortified by a hard-boiled egg that I had brought along from the breakfast table I settled into the lowest gear and actually pedalled all the way to the summit.

Very pleased with myself. The top reminded me of Molls Gap - sharp turn right through a gap in the rock and the then tourist merchandise was waiting. 

But what really caught my eye was the sign indicating a healthy drop for the next 5 km. I took it handy enough down this part with its sharp corners. In time it flattened out and then only 15 km to go. This part did rise and fall many times but nothing too demanding.

All day cattle have been straying along the road but near camp some of the smarter ones opted to wait for the bus to get back to the farmyard.

Over a bridge and one km of even dirt road and camp awaited right on the bank of the river. Just 2.15 so I waited a while before erecting the tent.

I popped down to the river to soak my ankles in the cold water to bring some relief to the itching I've had since the mosquitos had a feast on them last Tuesday night in camp at Kosh Agach. It worked. I’ve now got ointment for relief tonight. If they don't calm down before going home I’ll be going to the weir in Golden each day for relief !

A great impressive day of beautiful scenery from start to finish and fabulous weather. Long may it last.

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