Day 29. Friday. June 17

  Onguday to Cherga Campsite.

Distance:  116 km

Cumulative Distance: 2918 km

Time: 5 hrs 43 min

Speed:  20.2 km/hr

Feet Climbed today: 3243

Cumulative Climb: 65,585  ft 

AHR (Average Heart Rate) 104 bpm

Punctures so far: 2.     

Altitude tonight: 1882 ft

First, today is such a big day for Barry and Niamh on the occasion of their wedding. I should be there but Margaret will fulfill both roles admirably, I’m sure. All the cyclist here send their best wishes and raise their glasses to both of you. Many years of happiness together.

There was a scare forecast yesterday that heavy rain was due but it turned out to be a perfect dull day suitable for the morning’s climb.

Re mosquito bites; had a scratch-free night and a good long sleep due possibly to the immersion sessions in the river or to the ointment that Mike kindly gave me.

We hit out of camp along a dirt road of 4 km past a gravel plant before rejoining the highway at Onguday, a large town sitting comfortably in a valley. Nothing much stirring there yet as we pass by just before 6am. All cyclists set out knowing that the day's work would be completed early unlike yesterday.

So many of the old weathered traditional houses look as if they have been taken out of a “Fiddler on the Roof” set. Side by side they tilt against each other as if built with no foundation. The general colour scheme of a village is black/brown.

The profile for today's ride was an inverted V, up to 60 km and then down to day’s end at 116 km. For the duration of the day we moved along much wider valleys than yesterday and thus not as spectacular.

The road started to rise at 38 kn and no ease up till 60 km, i.e 22 km of a climb lifting over 3000 ft. It had 3 lifts at 9% each lasting between 1 and 2 km. It kept just rising and rising. But no great heat to contend with. The two lads went ahead and I ploughed on at my own pace.

In time the top of Seminsky Mountain Pass appeared in the distance, nothing as sudden as yesterday but welcome. Again lots of stalls selling honey, pine nuts and knitwear from Mongolia.

Naturally I was very pleased with this second major climb in two days. 3000 feet climbed and done before 10 am. 

We met up in a small Coke stop for our first reward for completing the task. It went down well. T’was extra windy and chilly up here and we all put back on the jackets and leg warmers. Ready for the corresponding descent.

Then our second reward.....7 km  down at 10%. But I took it handy to enjoy the spin as long as possible. Flowers are beginning to bloom and add colour to our surroundings. Down nearly at the end of the descent lunch stop awaited.

From lunch the road generally descended with the odd rise. As yesterday the road is regularly marked with memorials to victims of traffic accidents. Happens everywhere. Also householders had jars of honey on sale all along the way but I didn't see much selling activity.

Landscape along here looked familiar with green hedgerows and fences dividing the land. Spring flowers brightened the roadside adding contrast to the distant hills.

Since this morning traffic has indeed been heavier in both directions but a two-foot wide shoulder and a generous gravel verge helps. Motorists and truckers have been accommodating and courteous and no close shaves have been reported.

Especially over the last 15 km white butterflies have been flitting by in their thousands, sometimes coming straight at you. They are all of the same type and I captured a few of them on flowers and on the gravel. (And, I passed them all, Pat!)

Tonight's campsite is across a shaky bridge, down a dirt road and located on the bank of the Cema river and cabins were available for upgrading. With a dodgy forecast for the night I opted to do so and am sharing with Paul in one of the finest cabins. Not bad for less than a tenner and I clocked in at 1 pm.

Plenty of time to wash and organise before we all met at 4.30. First item on the agenda was to drink health to the newly married couple. Slainte.

Tomorrow, some cyclists will come to the end of their involvement in Silk Route 2016 when they arrive in Gorno. So Dan, Par, Peter, Liz and Joost received their special Jessie's and medals to mark the occasion. Sandy also finishes but has gone on to Gorno already. Before dinner and Riders Meeting, a drinks and nibbles party was held and indeed continued on afterwards.

As I write the dancing and music is continuing with the hard-core still bopping. Probably the same at the wedding.

But, the alarm will sound at 4.30 in the morning and another 95 km to be done to Gorno. And then a well earned Rest Day after a 7 day stint.

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