There is still work to do on Rudy. The front light mountings have cracked but cannot be welded so Simon, one of the mechanics who prepared the car, fabricates a couple of braces which he fixes on the frames with some jubilee strips. It’s not perfect but it should hold. Off to the morning time control located at the temple which we make just in time. We then fill up and return to check out the temple and take some pictures. This delays us but we feel we cannot come this far to focus only on the rally. We also take the opportunity to play with a couple of eagles controlled by a local man.
We refuel and by the time we are off we are already an hour behind an impossible schedule. The roads in this part of Mongolia are almost all dirt tracks, mostly heavily corrugated and potholed. There are a few asphalt roads but they are few and far between. The vibration and pounding on the car and it’s passengers is relentless. Philip Young seems to have designed this rally so as to not allow any competitor to reach the final destination of the day on the type of terrain available unless they decide to trash their cars and themselves in the process. Today we also have the privilege of some river crossings which I manage to complete without the shame of getting fished out by the organisation’s jeeps. Lunch is on the fly, bread and cheese and an apple, courtesy of Nomads, the traveling catering and camp organisers.
The route alternates moments of flat land to some challenging hills which, particularly when the road is full of potholes, slow us down considerably. We pass by some villages most of which still have dirt roads but which seem quite clean and in good shape. The houses are mostly wooden have roofs painted mostly red and blue, The colours of Mongolia. The older people are usually dressed in traditional Mongol costume which looks like a thick dressing gown with decorations tightened at the waist. There are always a lot of children around most of whom cheer and wave at us as we pass by.
Past the next time trial over some steep hills, we are back in a valley where we have the first encounter with some Yaks, essentially large cows with extra long furs particularly under their bellies. Later we also come across a number of large eagles feasting on a dead yak on the side of the road, probably the victim of a passing truck. They seem to ignore us as we drive by but retreat as we drive back to take some closer shots.
The track leading us to our camp goes through some more hills and over some small rivers. It is so rough that it often advisable to drive parallel to it either in some alternative tracks or even on the fields. We finally reach it just before sunset, in time to pitch our tent. It’s a beautiful site right next to a river. It”s very cold however and despite all the dust we don’t have the courage to have a shower out in the open. After dusting off quickly we have dinner and turn in for the night.