Although we are only 150km from Ulaanbaatar I figured
it may take us 5 hours and that was a pretty good estimate, only
because the last hour we had a sealed road and managed 60km. So 4 hours to make 90km.
The
track was often more than one or should I say seldom was one and we
often had 4 or 6 to choose from. I new track is made simple by cars
going around a soft spot, a bump, a cow that doesn’t want to move.
Occasionally all tracks would become one and we’d be on a fully formed road with
gravel. These spells did not last long. Not sure if they were the only
sections built maybe across very boggy soil or going over a hill. Or
whether the other parts of the road had just disappeared.`
Wildflowers
were everywhere. I guess they only have a short time to sow their
seeds.
We
stopped on a ridge top for a late lunch, while here about 8
cars/small trucks came past us going the opposite way. These tracks are
their link to towns and I guess are still faster than horseback.
Occasionally we see a prayer pole (shrine) where colorful bits of material are tied to it.
We skirted a couple of towns. Like the south Americans they really like
their fences. Some of the fenced plots have a house or a yurt or
both.
They do like their colorful roofs.
There
are many herds of horses which appear to be hot as they shelter in
the shade or stand knee deep in water,all clumped together.
There are little animals that dive into burrows when disturbed.
We
arrived at the out skirts of
Ulanbaatar.
The bending of reo on a building site in Ulaanbaartar
We
drove into the center square and out again. City driving is not
enjoyable. I did have a conversation with a public bus driver which
we came to a stop beside a few times.
By
now it was about 6pm, and we headed for the museum and statue of
Genghis Khan on his horse.
The road was still very slow.
Genghis Khan's memorial had his outriders looking after him.
This
was pretty impressive but the building could do with some
maintenance.
We
paid our AU$15 each and headed in. The museum was a bit basic but did
give an understanding of the progression of the Ger and yurt to today's
version. A Teepee (Ger) covered in grass to teepee covered in felt then
the teepee with side walls (Yurt).
Up into the neck and head of Genghis’s horse we actually took some selfies here.
As
we were leaving a had a strange sensation realizing that John Yeo had
been right here,on a scotch trip.
From
the horses head we had spied a track(s) going over a saddle in a distant ridge, so headed
for that.
Within
30 mins we had made camp looking back down on Genghis. Again quiet a
busy little track.
As
we were leveling up a guy stopped by for a chat. Couldn’t communicate
with him and he left as we finished. Not sure if we should of invited
him in.
204km Camp site 1574m alt.
204km Camp site 1574m alt.