Ulaanbaatar

We made it! After a bloody long day driving from te Lake (which wasn't all that) we have arrived in Ulanbaatar! The road turned to Tarmac about 500 km from UB so we were making the most of it and bombing along at 65mph and after a 50km in the wrong direction detour, we were making good progress and thought we might make it for a beer ot two. But at about 100km south west of UB, at about 11pm so very dark and the Mongolians never dip their lights which makes it impossible to see anything, the road just stopped. We left the tarmac at around 60mph straight onto a very rough dirt track. Bit of a shock I can tell you! We thought this can't go on for long, the road to UB must be one of the best. But no, all 100km to the capital was a dirt track. In places about a mile wide with lights of other cars all over the place, we just heading north east-ish and hoped for the best. We did finally make it and roled into UB at 3am, so no beer for us, just founf a hotel and got some sleep.

So after that fun evening, we found an Irish bar that did breakfast and had a full English (well English/German/Mongolian) which went down a treat. Spent yesterday going to CPDF (the charity head quarters) dropped off all the hats and gloves we got from Chill Factore which they were very appreciative for and then started to sort out our stuff.

In the evening us and 3 other teams went to the charity for an official thankyou of sorts. Where we all got presented with some fortune telling bones (very cool) and a plaque saying we have been certified with "Envoy of Honour" (also cool).

Going to sort out the flights today, Paul is heading back to the UK where I am going on to Thailand or somewhere, not decided yet.

Think we are also going with the charity to meet some of the kids they help, so will finally be able to give away all the sweets (misus a few that have been munched).
Going to give Bruce away tomorrow, who has a bit if a lean on now, the shock has definetly gone. Have to say though he held up very well, got to thank Mitsiland again there!! The only on going problem was the over heating when going up hills, which wasn't that bad, we just had to keep an eye on the temp. Other than that we blew a spot light while lost in a dry lake in Mongolia (it literally exploded), a cracked windscreen caused by the bumps in western Mongolia, the roof bars holding the tyres on where ripped on the rails when we hit a huge bump (are now all a bit buckled) and most annoyingly the drivers seat squeeks like mad! But all in all, not that bad and with a bit of TLC should be as good as ever.

Have uploaded a few more photos, in the usual place.

This may be the last post but you never know.
Stephen