We stayed last night in Kyachta on the Russia/Mongolia boarder. Typical guest house style hotel for about $25 each. This place also had its own bathroom and shower, a bed for each of us and secure garage for the bikes. Basically the Four Seasons of motorcycle travel. We had dinner at a pizzeria - somewhat familiar and strange at the same time. No mozzarella cheese or tomato sauce, but a cheese sauce to take the place of both. Anyway, the beer was cold so we were happy. The owner of the guest house also drove us to and from the restaurant so we didn't have to ride the bikes and could enjoy a few beers. If we were riding to the restaurant it would have been sodas only. She wouldn't take any money for being our personal taxi - again great hospitality here in Russia!
Today we will cross the boarder to Mongolia. All the info says it will take some time to get through - anywhere from several hours to half a day to all day, depending on the report. We plan to get in the que by about 9:00am. From the boarder we will have about 350 km to Ulaan-baatar where we plan to stay at least a night or more at The Oasis - a travelers camp just outside the city. There we hope to get beta on which roads (or lack there of) to use to cross Mongolia. We have received mixed reports from travelers we have encountered so far - according to everyone all the roads are difficult and shity over any route we choose. Hopefully we will get some useful info from travelers that have just come across from the west.
Yesterday was a fairly easy ride - except the last 200 km was pretty bumpy and potholed. There were actually signs warning you about the dangerous roads ahead - in English which has been rare up to this point. If there is a road sign saying danger in Russia - you pay attention! Usually there is just this small sign with a bumpy road graphic - and then you get to the section and find no road and gravel the size of golf balls a foot deep. At least in Mongolia we we'll be expecting the roads to be tough, so no surprises - maybe...
Passing by Ulan-Ude one more time.
Morning pic of the lake. It looks very different today with no waves.
Danger Will Robinson!
Today we will cross the boarder to Mongolia. All the info says it will take some time to get through - anywhere from several hours to half a day to all day, depending on the report. We plan to get in the que by about 9:00am. From the boarder we will have about 350 km to Ulaan-baatar where we plan to stay at least a night or more at The Oasis - a travelers camp just outside the city. There we hope to get beta on which roads (or lack there of) to use to cross Mongolia. We have received mixed reports from travelers we have encountered so far - according to everyone all the roads are difficult and shity over any route we choose. Hopefully we will get some useful info from travelers that have just come across from the west.
Yesterday was a fairly easy ride - except the last 200 km was pretty bumpy and potholed. There were actually signs warning you about the dangerous roads ahead - in English which has been rare up to this point. If there is a road sign saying danger in Russia - you pay attention! Usually there is just this small sign with a bumpy road graphic - and then you get to the section and find no road and gravel the size of golf balls a foot deep. At least in Mongolia we we'll be expecting the roads to be tough, so no surprises - maybe...
Ken and Mark's hammocks yesterday morning at the lake.
Ken practicing safe riding technique snapping photos on the fly.
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