Pic 1. Mongolian roadbuilding.
Pic 2. herdsman (on bicycle) with goats.
Pic 3. queue to exit Mongolia
Pic 4. Border marker post.Pic 5. Siberian building techniques - massive chunks of wood everywhere.
Pic 6. Friendly guard dog.
Pic 7. Lenin under ominous skies.
Pic 8. Welcome to Russia
Pic 9. Me sampling the local produce.
Pic 10. Seb writing his journal.
Left Olgiy at 5.30 (had to rouse someone to open the gate for us) and started out on a good road, with tarmac. Unfortunately, after just a few miles, the road was blocked with piles of earth, as roadbuilding was in progress. This pushed us back to finding our way on the side tracks. However, we still had a wonderful, steep (I had to walk for a long section) climb to 8802ft (our highest point yet). Then we dropped down the other side, watching large numbers of a chubby rodent (like a ginger groundhog, with a bushy tail) waddle away to their burrows just in time to miss having their picture taken.
The border processes were Kafkaesque, with queues to join queues, and then a queue in a holding bay while the Russian entry post finished their lunch. No mans land was 28km of perfect tarmac, and no traffic. We crossed the border in only 6 hours. The guards were confused we were not 130 cars! It was sad to leave Mongolia but at least Russia has tarmac & hot water.
Should get to Bijsk tomorrow where I hope to upload some photos, and be in Novosibirsk by Thursday. Now among the mountains - the change of scenery is good.
Update from Kip & Carmen in Siberia: " Had a very wet and cold day. Ended up in a small town 230 miles west from Karasnoyarsk, where we were yesterday. The hotel we are staying in is 3 months old and we have rest for 3days. Have had fabulous food and all 5 staff attention. Feel fat!"
Further Update: (Email sent to VSCC office)
Dear Sirs,
What a surprise, on a rainy Siberian Monday morning….just as I pull to my trusted gas station….what do I see ??? a British vintage car with non-Russian plate numbers…
I couldn’t but stop for a chat, is not that often that I’ve met other Europeans in
Best regards from 
Gonzalo
4 comments:
Blimey, looks as though they've even had time to wash it!
Good luck with the Russian section.
RFS
Clean car and swish hotels... I bet they now wish they had gone though Mongolia! s
just catching up on your adventures. Wildlife sounds fascinating! I gather from K that your health is now better - saw him at JD's funeral, which was very moving. Hard to imagine a better send-off, helped by perfect weather and a jaw-dropping turnout from all the various worlds he'd touched. Your exploits were much discussed at the subsequent mega-noggin: there are lots of folks rooting for you! K impressively calm and confident!
Glad things are going well. Keep up the good work - and keep those customs officials in order!
Ian D.
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