|
The first part of the trip
will be in the northern part of Mongolia where he will take an "organized"
tour
through the Khovsgol National Park.
|
Itinerary
|
|
Date
|
Miles
|
Activity
|
|
8/18
|
|
Arrive in Ulaan Baatar
(the capital of Mongolia). |
|
8/19
|
20
|
Fly to Moron and begin
cycling across the steppe on dirt tracks toward Khatgal, on Lake
Khovsgol. |
|
8/20
|
40
|
Ride north and camp
outside Khatgal |
|
8/21
|
35
|
Ride into Khatgal
and Khovsgol
National Park. Visit the Park headquarters. Continue north
along the shore of Lake
Khovsgol |
|
8/22
|
20
|
ride to Har Uss Springs.
Establish base camp for layover day. Day hikes or rides available. |
|
8/23
|
-
|
Rest day at Har Uss.
Day rides, hiking or fishing. |
|
8/24
|
25
|
Ride halfway over
Jigleg Pass through the Saridag mountains. Mountain pass is over
10,000 feet. |
|
8/25
|
25
|
Ride to the town of
Renchinluhmbe in Darhat Valley. Overnight in tents in Renchinluhmbe.
The one chance for a shower! |
|
8/26
|
25
|
Begin riding south
through the Darhat Valley. Plenty of opportunities to meet local
herdsmen, drink tea and swap stories. |
|
8/27
|
30
|
Continue riding through
Darhat Valley to Ulaan Uul. Sever large river crossings.
|
|
8/28
|
30
|
Over the Darhat Valley
pass (also over 10,000 feet) and begin long winding downhill back
to Moron |
|
8/29
|
30
|
Continue riding to
Moron - camp along Delger Moron river. |
|
8/30
|
|
Return flight from
Moron to Ulaan Baatar. |
|
8/31
|
|
Free day in Ulaan
Baatar for sightseeing and shopping. Farewell dinner. |
|
9/1
|
|
Fly to Beijing. |
Greetings
from Mongolia!!
At last I
am able to communicate if this does not bomb- out before I finish!
Just got back from my bike adventure last night very tired but exuberant.
What an adventure - has to rank high among all
of my trips.
Lets see,
biked about 250 very tough miles, 25 miles was
a tough day. Rode a yak, a horse up a very steep hill in
the snow, and drove a Russian 66 - four wheel drive. Got snowed in
on the pass, mud up to our axles, transmission linkage broken.
So Mishig, our driver, recruited 12 horsemen to pry
out the truck with long poles, build a log road and, push us out!
Oh, pounded on the linkage with a rock and crowbar and got it repaired.
It was a mystery
where all the horseman came from but in that vast desolation, people
always seemed to show up. We had a great cook, great food, not always
mutton. Each day they set up the gear at our new camp spot, which
provided a warm and dry shelter. Otherwise we slept in tents which
were also dry.
People are
now migrating to their Winter pastures, each family with three or
four oxcarts, wooden wheels, piled with their total household and
gear. As meat was getting low the last few days, it was slaughter
time, two sheep. They kill the sheep by cutting a hole in its chest
and pulling out its heart. Nice!! The sheep didn't seem to suffer
and, it saves all of the blood this way. Didn't have any fermented
mares milk. Darn! There is a shortage because of the severe past winter.
Did have yak milk, butter, and cheese.
Well, I am
getting nervous that the computer will crash, So I will close for
now. Keep those emails coming, it is so nice
to hear from you all in this far away place! This is only
the beginning of my story telling so, be prepared to hear a lot more
when I get home.
Tomorrow it
is off to Beijing for more biking and more stories. Take care, form
the land of Chingis Khan.
Ben
|
|
After spending
two weeks in the wilds of Central Asia, Ben returns to civilization
to see some of the sights in and around Beijing (also on his bicycle)
|
Itinerary
|
|
9/1
|
Study the traffic
rules and stay out of jail. |
|
9/2
|
Ride around city to
see such sights as Tian
An Men Square, Mao's Rememory Hall and Palace Museum. |
|
9/3
|
Ride to the Great
Wall and spend the night there. |
|
9/4
|
Return to Beijing
seeing the Ming
Tombs along the way. |
|
9/5
|
Ride out to the Summer
Palace. |
|
9/6
|
Shopping in Beijing. |
|
9/7
|
Return to San Luis
Obispo. |
Day 1 in Beijing
Hi everyone! Got
here yesterday very tired as I haden't had a day off since the
beginning of the trip. So, todays is my day off at least from
biking. Spent the day trying to get a little "street wise".
The people here have been very kind and helpful which makes
one feel confortable in a very different society. Woops, just
discovered that the spell check is in Chinese. Diden't spell
that right did I?
The streets are full
of bicyclists going the speed of the SLOspokes or less - no
hammerheads here!! Kent, you woulden"t be able to go so slow!
I have a twelve mile ride tomorrow, probably will take two hours!!
Feels like it is
ninty degrees here and very humid. This internet cafe is just
down the street from my hotel thank goodness!, for the hotel
charges about 10 times as much. Beijing is certainly in the
modern world. Not a lot different, except for the culture, than
other large cities throughout the world. Except so far, the
food tastes more like sawdust than anything else. And, prices
aren't much cheaper than in the US! Probably out in the country
it is cheaper.
Well, this e-mail
turned out to be longer than I expected it to be. I have a full
schedule for the next three days, so you probabley will not
be hearing much from me for a while. Best wishes to everyone!!
Also, talked to Babette today, so she can fill you in on more
details. Clark! Send me an e-mail so I can get your address
correct!
By to all, Ben
|
Day 3 in Beijing
It's like being a
performer in a ballet. Weaving in and out, coming close to other
cyclist then there is no one, slow - a little slower (no speedsters
here), somehow everyone missing everyone (including
taxi's in the bike lane!).
I started out biking
yesterday with a little hesitation but quickly gained confidence
and found it much fun! So took my usual Sunday morning "B and
G" ride to Tien'anim
Square and the Forbidden
City. This was about eight miles to where
I had to walk with the bike. Met a Chinese family who were amazed
at my exploits and invited me to there home to see artwork.
This I reluctantly refused as I had a full day planned, fuller
than I thought!
Parked my bike and
locked it near the gate to the Forbidden City and proceeded
about five miles of viewing that wonderful place. This took
over two hours. Returned, began to unlock my bike - didn't open!!
Tried and tried to no avail! What to do?, for my cable cutters
were in my hotel room! Then a guy from a nearby snack stand
came, had me prove that the bike was mine, and tried the lock.
I thought that maybe he knew how to pick locks - didn't open.
So, I made the scissors sign, he disappeared and returned with
wire-cutters and a huge screwdriver. Big relief! But what am
I going to do with no bike-lock!? Pointed to a bike lock on
a nearby bike, then pointed to my trusty red bike. My friend
made a motion and disappeared again. Came back with a brand
new bike lock still in its package. How much? 25 yan (about
2 dollars!}. Motioned I'll take it!! My friend proceeded to
install the lock - didn't fit on the fat aluminum frame! The
Chinese ride iron "flying pigeons" - about fifty pounds, one
gear, skinny frames. No problem for my new-found
friend! Disappeared again and returned with long bolts. Finally
the lock was installed, He demonstrated how it worked, I paid
three dollars, shock hands, took his picture, and was on my
way! Whew!!
By this time it was
2:30 so, off to the worlds largest McDonald's, nearby. Had a
spicy chicken sandwich, fries, and a coke. Sure tasted good.
Being a "Gringo" they tried to give me the regular chicken sandwich
- I wanted spicy! and I got spicy. Parked my bike down the street
in a gigantic McDonald's bicycle parking lot (one of two) each
having several attendants safekeeping the bikes. (I
don't know who would steal a bike anyway - the penalty is death,
you pay for your bullet! Back to the square, Mau's
tomb, and many kite flyers. Someone motioned to me, would I
like a turn at flying his kite? Showed me how to operate the
huge reel. Great wind! Great fun!!
After trading e-mail
addresses with another guy, engineering student, it was time
to join the ballet and return the eight miles to my hotel. Could
I find my way? I did and here I am to tell about that wonderful
and exhausting day in Beijing!
Ben
|
Day 5 in Beijing
Hi all! This wonderful
but trying trip is ending and in a few hours I will be on my
way back to SLO town. To finish things off, I decided to opt
for a day of cycling the streets of Beijing. Did another fifteen
miles of weaving in and out of masses of bicycles, taxes, cars,
people. Learned to protect myself from the vehicles by hiding
in the middle of a group of cyclists. Again, it was getting
into the rhythm of it all, actually quite enjoyable but much
more intense on this a weekday. After making several wrong turns,
i finally made it to the Llama Buddha
Temple. Another amazing place of beautiful structures
enclosing huge siting, reclining, standing, gold encrusted Buddha's.
The smell of burning incense waufted everywhere, A Chinese gal
remarked that a lot of the tourists had bellies like Buddha
but not me! Ha!
Well, it was past
time for lunch at McDonald's for a respite from Oriental food
(there are over fifty Mc Donald's in Beijing). Parked my bike
in the McDonald's parking lot, fee less than 1 cent. Paid the
attendant and went in to enjoy a Macfish, chips and a coke.
Next biked through the Hutong
area (ancient residences) with a stop at the bell and drum towers.
These were used in ancient times to drum and ring out the time
of day to the city. Climbed one tower (seventy stairs, very
steep, straight up) and had a marvelous panoramic view of the
city.
Time for the last
ride back to Hotel Hua Du and to prepare my trusty bike for
travel. Off with the pedals and rotated the handlebars sideways.
Went through the hotel's revolving door to be met by an excited
manager, "What happened to your bike!!". He relaxed after I
explained the procedure for shipping my bike.
Well, thats all the
news from Beijing where all the men are dragons, all the women
pheonixes and the children are perfectly happy. See you soon!,
Ben
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