At one stage during the morning we were surrounded by a
herd of goats. The engine only just started and needed to be cranked a
few extra times…
No roll starting here.
On
the way into Altai on the yellow road (or off to the side on one of
the many tracks) a little blue truck waved us down. He had been towing
a car with 3 kids and two adults in it. He explained that on the
corrugations and his small dual back wheels he cannot get traction.
So
we towed the little white car as far as the seal about 20km and
30minutes. The truck also stopped at the corner and took back his job
of towing his friends/family into town.
Several
little blue trucks were carting horses.
Another
load of yak wool.
While filling with fuel, goats came past eating what was available on the median strip.
They
brand their goats by painting one or the other or both horns a color.
I tried unsuccessfully to
ask the attendant where we buy new start batteries. He obviously was
not a charades player.
We
continued into town and pulled up at a mechanics workshop. I called
the guy over and he understood. Made a couple of calls then we
waited.
Shortly
later the batteries arrived. Shorter than ours but supposedly 100AH.
The brand was Daewoo so should be OK. AU$160 each 300000mnt
The
owner had some English as he had been an exchange student in England 15
years prior, for 3 months.
He
drove me to the bank but ATM was out of cash, we tried a few more but
no luck suggested we go back for my passport and I can go into the
bank and withdraw.
We
exchanged one battery at the Bazaar, as the poles were on the wrong
side. Here you can buy goats or sheep from the back of a ute A$50. I
declined.
I
learnt that the school does run with two sessions morning 08:30 to 12:30
for the elder students and 14:30-18:30 for the younger ones.
The
guys and his father wanted the batteries which was fine by us. They
may still be good. Only 2 years old.
Bought
up at the supermarket and then out of town. Hope the new batteries
solve our problems..
A
bridge on the main road had seen better days.
A
guy came on his horse chasing a camel. We stopped to allow the camel to cross in front of us. The horseman gave us a huge smile.
He was enjoying the chase.
We
turned up a road that should prove to be interesting up a narrow
gorge. In fact most of the time we were driving up the creek bed.
Pulled up out of the creek bed onto a small hill for a view of the huge “pound” and internet.