Miles: 1555
Total Mileage: 9290
Cacti plants lost in the desert: 2
Tows out of sand dunes: 1
Vague route:
- Ulaanbaishint – Russian border
- Tsagaannuur
- Ulgii
- Khovd
- Altai
- Bayankhongor
- Eden Zuu Monastery – Kharkhorin
- Ulaanbatar
- Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex – Nalaikh
- Darkhan
- Altanbulag – Russian border
I could talk about Mongolia forever
It was more magical than we had heard or read
We would be here till Christmas if I tried
So we have written a poem instead:
The dirt road began to unfurl
A ribbon across the land
Dust already up to ears
We hadn’t even reached the sand
At Tsagaannuur we turned left
The northern pass before us
A far more beautiful piste beyond
But far more treacherous for the bus
The herdsmen told us no
The river was far too deep
They could tow us through if we liked
But this decision was far too steep
Three hours drive back to the town
Disheartened and confused
‘How would be get to Ulaanbaatar?’, we pondered
The options left us bemused
Our Italian amici at the border
Had said they were going south
The Mongol Rally cars too
Were headed for the south
But Google said ‘NO! Don’t go south, there is a huge river to cross in the south!’
So we went south
Heading out of Ulgii
We were chased by some familiar mates
Some fellow Brits in Rally cars
With the same route dates
But they pressed on and we camped out
Feeling better about our choice
Alone at last on the Mongolian steppe
Not a sound, not a voice
The silence was deafening
If that is even a thing
What other treasures and jewels
Would Mongolia bring?
The sunrise over the hills
Lit up beautiful new tarmac
The south route would be easy we thought!
Until the road began to lack
We drove beside the asphalt
On the bumpy old dirt track
Barriers and guards stood in place
To make sure we didn’t go back
They tempted us for miles
Whilst we crawled at a snails pace
4x4s zooming past us
As if it were a formula one race
Their dust clouds on the vanishing point
We were all beginning to tire
But the scenery surrounding us
Was something to admire
The vast planes are never-ending
Camels, goats, horses, and sheep
Their nomad carers going about their business
All enclosed by mountains steep
There is a feeling of being so small
In the gigantic expanse of the steppe
Sometimes you are completely alone
In the truest meaning of the concept
The ethereal colour palette paints
A masterpiece to behold
Dusty pinks and burnt orange
Bright blue skies and sunshine like gold
Driving into Altai
The road began to improve
We even found the Rally boys
As we hit the next stretch of the road so smooth
The Gobi desert lay ahead
Supposedly more Ford Transit friendly
It’s ok for Toyota Prius and Japanese bikes
Turns out half is tarmac incidentally
Buddhist temples poised on hills
And blue scalves draped all around
The spirituality of the people and country
Gives a feeling of hallowed ground
Weather beaten cheery faces
Smile and wave as we go
The most inquisitive people we’ve ever met
And some of the nicest we’ve come to know
A herd of comical camels
Isn’t something you normally see
It’s the only type of traffic jam here
As they are wandering wild and free
One thing we will not miss however
Is the sheer amount of dust
Our little home was soon thickly coated
Inside and out with the stuff
Every corner you turn
Brings a whole new geological surprise
But had we been mistaken?
Had we left planet earth for Mars?
The desert stretched on and on
The track becoming more rough
Tina even gave up at one point
It seemed she was finding it tough
Wedged in a Gobi sand dune
A local gave us a tug
Just as the heavens began to open
And the rain came down with a thud
The desert storm was swelling
And our spirits were decreasing
Three days at twenty kmph
Does not do well for ones feelings
Yet on queue once more
The track began to improve
Back with the Italians and Ralliers
We were all on the move
As for the local delicacies
This was something we approached with care
Whole sheep’s heads and goat’s testicals
And the fermented milk of a mare
We stuck to dumplings and vodka
And delicious they both where
Sipping milky tea with the locals
Inside the protection of a Ger
One thing we will never forget
Is the Mongolian sky at night
The stars go on for light-years
Your breath taken away by the sight
But the tranquility all but vanished
As we hit the capital city
A mass of traffic and fumes as a greeting
It seemed a bit of a pity
\
Yet the centre was a pleasant surprise
A mishmash if cultures together
Nomads, businessman and punks
Everyone just enjoying the weather
Our next stop was to see old Chinggis
The biggest statue in the world
Astride his horse of silver
The man of the millennium we were told
Yet sadly it was time to go
Our time frame was coming to an end
We still had to drive back through Russia
With visa validity we could not bend
Our last night camped out on the steppe
Surrounded by animals and Gers
Nomads ourselves in our own little van
With a week full of adventures
A round of applause for Tina
Still with no punctures of breaks
She gave them a run for their money
All her 4×4 mates
Approaching the border at last
We were struck with a melancholy feeling
We didn’t want to leave the place
The thought of staying was appealing
But our destination was reached
Half our trip still to go
But Mongolia we will be back again soon
You’ve captured our hearts in one go
In Transit 
Your photos and poem are great! Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks! It’s an amazing place!
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