2nd Aug - Moron to Alag-Erdene

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We planned to get on the road early today and we were packed and ready by 9 but then had a relaxed breakfast with Hishgee and Tovo.


We started talking about our route and asked their option. Grandpa joined us and told us that the shorter route on the back roads crosses a river where there is no bridge or way to get across. That is at the place were google maps stops plotting the route across.

On the way through town I spent a couple of hours trying to get an extension on my visa only to find out it would be a 4 day round trip to UB and back by bus! No thanks.... I decided that time would be better spent biking and hitching if necessary than 2 * 22 hour bus rides to the capital and back.

It was frustrating as it took a while to find the right building and then to find the right room and then to find that the woman I needed to speak to was not there. I had to wait for her to return and faff some more - only to find out that it is only possible to get extensions in UB. Oh well - just part of traveling.

We eventually left town about 1 and headed North towards the lake.


The weather was lovely and the road not great as there are many tracks which run parallel to the main road which is in the process of being built.

We stopped off for lunch and just as we were finishing a guy in a lorry pulled up and jumped out to shake our hands and stay hello. He seemed very friendly and guested to other passing vehicles to stop and all of a sudden we were surrounded by a group of about 10 people. It was only 5 minutes later after we had shared our our lunch and cigarettes that the lorry driver pulled out from his little book my business card with my Oxfam sponsorship details and contact information. For a couple of seconds I was shocked and wondered how he had this card when both Jenna and myself started laughing as we recognised him as the same lorry driver that had pulled over to talk to us only 2 days outside of UB! The lorry driver thought it was really funny we did not recognise him straight away. He was such a lovely friendly man!


Jenna was really not feeling well and so we did not get as far as hoped today and stayed in a lodge with no running water, electricity or sanitation but it was perfect timing as we did not have to put our tents up in a thunderstorm!


The children at the lodge were really cute and friendly.


I helped this Mongolian guy fix his tyre with my bicycle tools and parts. Good to give back! :-)