2019-09-13 Day 351 Fri.

The engine did not start It cranked over strongly, but did not fire. I contacted Jane from Orion and she gave us the mechanics number. John contacted him on WhatsApp. After a few minutes and questions he came up with the thought that it could be the common rail diesel pressure control valve. If it stops working completely we will not be able to start the engine.

We have decided not to visit the lakes off to the NW in Altai and to make a B-line to Novosibirsk and repairs. 



With the batteries joined and the sun on the panels we got the start batteries up to 13.6V. The sun then disappeared into the increasing cloudy weather. It was enough and the engine thankfully started.

Drove through Duut which was a tiny town.

Not far out of town we met this Swiss guy in his defender. Had quite a chat. He was going a slightly different track than us but our map did not have a road. He ended up retracing our path across the mountain pass.

 We came across this fox. We have seen 2 or 3 but not as close as this.

 









 











 







We made it into Khovd the capital of this area, and big on monuments. This white bottle is reminiscent of a bottle a Mongol showed us. It was wrapped in a little pouch, he unwrapped it and gave it to us to smell. I am not sure if they snort it like snuff or whether it is perfume.

 












Bought fuel and some food. In the supermarket I met an American biker who was heading to border as well. Getting cold in a tent. He mentioned that he was not sure if border was open at weekends. I looked up carivanistan and it is open 0900-1800 Monday to Saturday.

Which means we needed to get close to the border tonight so that if engine does not start early we have time to get some solar and still get to the border before lunch time. A long days drive.

 






I have better night vision so drove on dusk through to about 2300 when we finally camped by a dry river bed near Tsagaannuur.

The engine starts warm so we kept it warm, starting it every 90mins and running with fast heat on till it got to temperature about 15mins.

368km Camp site  2118m alt.

2019-09-14 Day 352 Sat

Left camp about 0800 and filled with diesel. The filling station was out of power so sent us next door to the depot.

Here we spent our remaining MNT on fuel 

 

that was bucketed out of the ground tank

 

tipped into a 50lt Jerry can then

 pumped by hand into the vehicle.

Two local kids that enjoyed a handful of lollies. The adult workers did as well!

 

 

 A pile of coal that is purchased by the bucket full

The border had a line of vehicles. So we waited and waited. Met an Aussie guy traveling with a German lady in a vehicle with a Swiss friend. The first two are on their way to Kazakhstan to get horses to ride to England…. And raise funds for the Christchurch shootingsurvivors and first response guys.

Finally out of Mongolia then 26km of road to Russian border. The 4kmin Mongolia road very rough then good seal in Russia.

We were at the Russian border At 12:30 and left at 16:30 in this time they cleared 2 vehicles and a mini bus. So very slow. No problems just very cold standing around and very very slow.

 

Back into Russia 

That still gave us 4 hours of driving on good roads. 
 

We made another 230km and camped near a very green river. 

Again up every 1½ hours to run the engine for 15mins to keep the engine warm.

291km Camp site  718m alt.

2019-09-12 Day 350 Thu

They love their colorful roofs and fences

 Out houses would be chilly places in winter....

Very overcast heavy sky. The lovely snowy mountains were not visible this morning.

After showers we packed up and moved on at about 1100hrs.

I walked for a ways. It was cold with a very little bit of drizzle.

We were still on the west side of the road, upon reaching Bulgan(2) we had some internet so checked emails and sent an all OK to family. Just as we were leaving fat soft snow flakes fell on the windscreen.

We stopped and checked weather forecast. Snow flurries from 1pm to 2pm then partly cloudy min -5C overnight. It continued to snow and then to settle. It was still 8 degrees. More and more settled till we struggled to find the track. Then around the corner it as all clear again. 
 

Although we had about 1000m to climb we thought the snow will not be to thick...

We continued on and turned NE onto the Bulgan-Duut track about 14:30. It was not snowing but there were snow clouds up north.

This monument was seemingly in the middle of nowhere

 What a gorgeous drive up a creek bed.

Within half an hour we were in snow passing corrals, 

 

huts and yurts 

 

along with yaks Then into the snow. As we followed the valley up the snow slowly thickened its blanket on the rocky ground.

We could just discern the wheel tracks under the snow of the track and managed to continue. The low clouds drifted away and we were left to enjoy a really beautiful day.

 

It was a total of 70km from the turnoff onto the track to a small town called Duut.

We had decided, because of our untrusty engine, that we should camp close to civilization. Hence sadly we would not be camping at the summit (3200m).

Although still above freezing, the snow was dry and not slippery. The track was still covered in snow but looked like it had been created with a dozer.

 

But at about 3000m the back wheels started slipping around a corner I had gotten into deepish snow.

John backed down and on his 3^rd attempt and going wide he managed to drive up.

 

30 minutes later at 3150m at the switchback again the back wheels slid out. We felt it prudent to try out our new chains. Only took 15mins to fit after finding some warm clothes. It was -1.5C. 

 

John backed down and drove on up without a slip. Easy chains to fit did not have to move a wheel. 

 

We continued to the top in brilliant sunshine. What a glorious vista arriving the summit 17:20 about 3 hours to travel some 26km.  

Now for downhill. Still on the bulldozed track but a lot of snow still on it and still very rough.

We got talking and john thought he would try for a smooth track. I was too late with my warning that he was leaving the track and front right went into a hole. Needed the winch to get her out.

Just got moving again when John mentioned we had visitors. A UAZ was coming up hill. We gave him a wave. 

Very thankful he came along as soon the bulldozed track stopped and with out his tracks we may have fallen into more holes. Another one soon came up followed by two motorbikes who were struggling in the slippery rocky snow.

A very slow drive out of the rocks then a short cut up and over some ridges, fast and slow spots, back onto track and camped above the town of Duut around 20:00hrs. 7.5 hrs for 60km

Forecast for about -5C over-night

123km Camp site  2597m alt.