araspitfire
Registered user
Al...
Heavy Metal around Mongolia and Central Asia
- Thread starter Timolgra
- Start date
Al...
It was such a great place we three decided to stay another day.
Unusual for Mongolia there was a lot of dead wood to keep the fire going also dried dung to top it up.
Rick got his fishing rod out and was unsuccessful but did see to lads up to their waists in the freezing water on the ledge of a very deep river spearing fish.
I made a hand line to try and catch something but my hands were so cold I couldn't put the bait on the hook. So back to the fire where our clothes were drying and a very chilled day in both senses.
We sat round the fire while Dennis told his stories.
In the afternoon this big GAZ-54 truck
got stuck by the rocks in the river where Pete took his dunking the previous day.
The driver found some thin wire to attatch to his trailer in an attempt to drag it out.
It kept snapping and he'd try again.
Dennis and I stood watching, never feeling more helpless.
The Mongolian's perseverance, determination and ingenuity is to be admired as they go about their daily lives battling the elements without tools or technology.
He did get it out of the river by himself in the end. Of course.
We saw a Russian 4WD minibus get stuck in the same river, it sounded as though it was only firing on 3 cylinders, then the clutch began to slip as it got wet, water was coming in, passengers looked anxiously out the windows.
The driver put it into gear and wound it out with the starter motor and spluttered on.
The guys on horseback, the Kamaz and minibus were the only traffic to pass that day and I had trouble in the same river the following morning.
Unusual for Mongolia there was a lot of dead wood to keep the fire going also dried dung to top it up.
Rick got his fishing rod out and was unsuccessful but did see to lads up to their waists in the freezing water on the ledge of a very deep river spearing fish.
I made a hand line to try and catch something but my hands were so cold I couldn't put the bait on the hook. So back to the fire where our clothes were drying and a very chilled day in both senses.
We sat round the fire while Dennis told his stories.
In the afternoon this big GAZ-54 truck
got stuck by the rocks in the river where Pete took his dunking the previous day.
The driver found some thin wire to attatch to his trailer in an attempt to drag it out.
It kept snapping and he'd try again.
Dennis and I stood watching, never feeling more helpless.
The Mongolian's perseverance, determination and ingenuity is to be admired as they go about their daily lives battling the elements without tools or technology.
He did get it out of the river by himself in the end. Of course.
We saw a Russian 4WD minibus get stuck in the same river, it sounded as though it was only firing on 3 cylinders, then the clutch began to slip as it got wet, water was coming in, passengers looked anxiously out the windows.
The driver put it into gear and wound it out with the starter motor and spluttered on.
The guys on horseback, the Kamaz and minibus were the only traffic to pass that day and I had trouble in the same river the following morning.
easyman05
Registered user
Tim,
that's not a Kamaz
looks like an acient GAZ-54
that's not a Kamaz
looks like an acient GAZ-54
We left that special place to head off down the valley and meet the others still a few hours and river crossings away.
The town is just over the next ridge after riding across this enormous green plain which stretched for miles behind.
Everyone on a horse is eager to show us their skills.
Having met up with the others, who hated the town they'd stayed in
, we pressed on west.
I could see from my GPS the route took a big arc around to the right of these hills and to the mountains in the background, which are further away than they look so rode there alone to try and beat them.
Waiting near some huts for the others I had my only unpleasant encounter in Mongolia. Two heavily built guys, out of their heads on vodka trying to grab things off my bike and me as I tried to ride away.
Vodka has a lot to answer for throughout Russia, Mongolia and many parts of central Asia yet we in the west are worried about people smoking a bit of dope.
The town is just over the next ridge after riding across this enormous green plain which stretched for miles behind.
Everyone on a horse is eager to show us their skills.
Having met up with the others, who hated the town they'd stayed in
, we pressed on west.I could see from my GPS the route took a big arc around to the right of these hills and to the mountains in the background, which are further away than they look so rode there alone to try and beat them.
Waiting near some huts for the others I had my only unpleasant encounter in Mongolia. Two heavily built guys, out of their heads on vodka trying to grab things off my bike and me as I tried to ride away.
Vodka has a lot to answer for throughout Russia, Mongolia and many parts of central Asia yet we in the west are worried about people smoking a bit of dope.
Tim,
that's not a Kamaz
looks like an acient GAZ-54
Ah, I was just trying to see if you were paying attention
easyman05
Registered user
Ah, I was just trying to see if you were paying attention
Tim,
just to make it more realistic
as it looks like another planet I love your style and the pics are stunning, thanks a lot!
Could you estimate netto-weight of the luggage on your bike, pls? I guess you distributed some tools and kitchen equipment between the participants in order not to carry same items in multiple and to save the space for personal things?
To be honest no I couldn't, I don't even know the weight of an unladen GS as they're just numbers to me. I did end up carrying all my own kitchen equipment but that was bare minimum.
I like to feel self sufficient and carried most of my own normal spares and tools, but shared a pump.
We were fortunate, in one sense, that heavy spares such as a spare shocks etc. were carried in the Landy but they weren't neccessary spares for normal trips, we put dried food and goodies in our bag on the Landy but as it turned out you could get all your essentials along the way.
The other problem is that you need to pack some 'space' for all the extra riding clothes when it gets hotter, water, food, beer, choco pies.
Useful as they are you don't need tarps, kettles, frying pans, wires coming out of your helmet, loads of clothes, battery chargers and adapters for toys, wash kit can be minimal etc etc.
Next trip, I'll take even less
It doesn't matter how big your panniers are, you'll try and fill them, the bike will be heavy and it 'will' cause problems.
easyman05
Registered user
Yes, this is why I try to avoid tent and kitchen items.
I posted already the pic of our bikes from the latest Baikal ride - nice and easy. Well, except a bit of "adrenalin" when thinking about avaliability of rooms and motels on the route.
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=128278&stc=1&d=1249925470
Sohoeasy
Guest
Well ! I joined this Forum at five past six this evening. One hour later and I'm at the end of this thread. Top class, and what a great first read.
Mutley
Registered user
Oh no .....
Post some more PLEASE
Post some more PLEASE
JALFREZI
Registered user
Tim it's 09.50 on a Monday morning, if you don't start posting soon l will have to start work
We head westish through more wonderful country.
Heading for a lake to camp.
For miles the ground was so rough even my uprated suspension couldn't stop the rear tyre from bending the pannier brace and rubbing the mudguard.
Another camp in a wonderful spot with more visitors, I was up early to see the sunrise...brrrrr.
The milkman comes by, check out those wheels
Heading for a lake to camp.
For miles the ground was so rough even my uprated suspension couldn't stop the rear tyre from bending the pannier brace and rubbing the mudguard.
Another camp in a wonderful spot with more visitors, I was up early to see the sunrise...brrrrr.
The milkman comes by, check out those wheels
Deleted account W
Guest
You could populate the front page gallery with just the pictures off this thread 
We get back onto one of the bigger routes and bask in where we are and what we're doing.
I see this small lake and ride down to it, well wouldn't you?
Quite high up here we come over a pass into another Mongolian region.
The blue cloth of prayer offering, I still have a small piece tied to the handlebars of my bike....perhaps it'll continue to bring me luck.
I see this small lake and ride down to it, well wouldn't you?
Quite high up here we come over a pass into another Mongolian region.
The blue cloth of prayer offering, I still have a small piece tied to the handlebars of my bike....perhaps it'll continue to bring me luck.
In many parts of Mongolia trees are sparse with no regeneration.
Where's there's a pasture, years of overgrazing must surely prove unsustainable.
There's quite a few National Parks but no apparant policy in force and there are those who'd like to see the whole of Mongolia become a protected World National Park.......but that'll long after these guys have gone and the people do have to somehow sustain themselves.
Where's there's a pasture, years of overgrazing must surely prove unsustainable.
There's quite a few National Parks but no apparant policy in force and there are those who'd like to see the whole of Mongolia become a protected World National Park.......but that'll long after these guys have gone and the people do have to somehow sustain themselves.
Arrive a place like this and you just have to stop and set up camp, we did for two days.
It had it all, the weather was perfect, a river, locals calling by with bits of food, some 'dead' wood and dried dung for a fire in the evening.
I think we were all carrying minor injuries to various limbs after earlier falls in the sand so what a great place to rest up, sort the bikes, go fishing, Pete and Dennis did a long walk in the mountains and generally chill out.
We're well off the beaten track here and I hear two bikes approaching!
It's two 1150 GSs!
I wave and they come over...it's Rik and Rob!
They live in mid Wales, not too far from me!
They've been riding around the world for three years and seem to have been just about everywhere, yet we meet them here! Wonderful.
They had started out as three and I knew the third but he met an Irish girl in Vancouver.....as you do....fell in love.....as you do....then decided to get married.....as you don't
Small world sometimes.
They camp with us for the night and we exchange stories, they of course have so many compared to our 'little jaunt'.
They're home now and I'll be going to meet again them soon.
It had it all, the weather was perfect, a river, locals calling by with bits of food, some 'dead' wood and dried dung for a fire in the evening.
I think we were all carrying minor injuries to various limbs after earlier falls in the sand so what a great place to rest up, sort the bikes, go fishing, Pete and Dennis did a long walk in the mountains and generally chill out.
We're well off the beaten track here and I hear two bikes approaching!
It's two 1150 GSs!
I wave and they come over...it's Rik and Rob!
They live in mid Wales, not too far from me!
They've been riding around the world for three years and seem to have been just about everywhere, yet we meet them here! Wonderful.
They had started out as three and I knew the third but he met an Irish girl in Vancouver.....as you do....fell in love.....as you do....then decided to get married.....as you don't
Small world sometimes.
They camp with us for the night and we exchange stories, they of course have so many compared to our 'little jaunt'.
They're home now and I'll be going to meet again them soon.
Rik and Rob left early next morning, they had to get out of Mongolia and out of Russia before visas ran out. A great chance encounter.
Rick and I catch enough trout and greyling between us to feed us all that evening, cooked in the fire it was real 'Boy's Own' stuff.
I hadn't realised Rick was a Free Mason until he showed me his tiddler, but to be fair he did catch the biggest fish....not that we were competitive or anything
Rick and I catch enough trout and greyling between us to feed us all that evening, cooked in the fire it was real 'Boy's Own' stuff.
I hadn't realised Rick was a Free Mason until he showed me his tiddler, but to be fair he did catch the biggest fish....not that we were competitive or anything
The road improves for a while.
So I take two photos of the same place
Into a real 'wild west' dust blown town.
Somewhere in the distance we turn right off this road and lose Dennis who's often behind us
There had been two occasions where Dennis had fallen in sand and been pinned under his bike with no hope of sorting it himself, I just hope nothing had happened this time but had seen a dust trail miles away to our left and guessed what he'd done, hoping he'd realise his error.
So eventually we pressed on, we had a sat phone and knew at 6pm we could try and call him.
The sky was beginning to change.
He was somewhere in the far distance.
Shortly after this I had my biggest fall. Riding steeply up hill in deep sand there's a tight turn, my front wheel finds the rock.
Luckily Baz was there to pick me up.
So I take two photos of the same place
Into a real 'wild west' dust blown town.
Somewhere in the distance we turn right off this road and lose Dennis who's often behind us
There had been two occasions where Dennis had fallen in sand and been pinned under his bike with no hope of sorting it himself, I just hope nothing had happened this time but had seen a dust trail miles away to our left and guessed what he'd done, hoping he'd realise his error.
So eventually we pressed on, we had a sat phone and knew at 6pm we could try and call him.
The sky was beginning to change.
He was somewhere in the far distance.
Shortly after this I had my biggest fall. Riding steeply up hill in deep sand there's a tight turn, my front wheel finds the rock.
Luckily Baz was there to pick me up.
