New one 16 August

N48 57.832
E089 58.315
Olgiy, Mongolia!

Yesterday I pulled up to the MG border and met 3 teams from the Mongol Rally, we got along and decided to convoy. Thankfully they also agreed to carry my equipment to make the bike lighter!  The ride into the country was awesome, absolutely no roads, loose gravel and me on road tyres, the back tyre bald from the ride across a good chunk of the globe to get here. It was quite an experience and I had one or two 'moments' but nothing too serious and I did drop the bike! The corrigations were so bad I wondered if the bike would shake itself to death!! There was also a massive hill climb where the cars were struggling to make it up with the loose rocks and gravel. One car ripped its exhaust clean off and all vehicles were struggling with the altitude. We arrived at the first town to look for fuel but it was only 80 octane so we decided to push on the th next town to look for better quality fuel. At the next town better quality fuel couldn't be found so we all filled up with 80 octane and looked for a camping spot as it was getting late. A suitable spot was found and a camp fire was made and vodka was drunk in celebration of our arrival into MG. The next morning whilst doing routine checks it was discovered that 1 car had a blown head gasket, another had smashed their shock through their car and snapped a spring in 3 places and I had broken my sub frame again! So we headed back to town to find a garage. A garage was found and repair prices were agreed and a swarm of men began working on our vehicles. After a full days work (mechanical bodging), and my off road tyres fitted we were all rolling again. As it was dark, we all headed back to our previous nights campsite to get some food and sleep ready to start a new day afresh. The next morning was an early start as one of the teams really wanted to make up the lost day at the mechanics. We all headed off in convoy and the terrain got progressively worse but my off road tyres had turned the Honda into a 2 wheeled Hummer! I was ploughing through all surfaces with no problems at all, then came the first river crossing. The fiat uno ploughed into the water and got stuck! It was all hands on deck to push them out and eventually the cars were over, it was then my turn and the Honda stormed through with no problems at all! The day saw 3 more river crossings and not once did the Honda miss a beat, it seemed unstoppable! We all stopped around 2 for a quick noodle break and the rain and wind began. All the teams huddled in their cars and I took shelter behind a car. After the noodle break all the teams stormed off with me in hot pursuit, the rocky terrain that I had been ploughing through was now as slippery as ice and I had a big 'moment' where I slipped on a rock, the bike lurched sideways and the momentum ripped off the top box and a rock bent the rear brake lever! But a least I didn't come off, god knows how, but I'm thankful! The rest of the afternoon was spent with me dicing with death trying to keep pace with the cars, I had more than one scare and decided that enough was enough, at the next major town I was going to part company and ride my own rally again. I had ridden 200kms off road, I had not eaten properly (while the car drivers were munching all along) and I not had the chance to stop when I wanted and take the photos that I wanted to take. At Hovd we stopped for fuel and I told the teams of my decision, I was exhausted and just needed to stop. They were sad to see my leave but I have to do what is right for me. So I got all of my cases out of the cars and fully loaded up again I checked into the local hotel and fell asleep immediately.