Days 139 to 142 – Around Ulaanbaatar – Fri 12 to Mon 15 Jul

Days 139 to 142 – Around Ulaanbaatar – Fri 12 to Mon 15 Jul

A pretty blue sky greeted us Friday - rest, maintenance and photo editing and blog catchup planned. Reorganised cupboards and bags in vehicle and lockers, filled up containers and shakers, BoyRob cleaned air filter, dust/mud from valves. GirlRob moved on to IT tasks, and sat in a corner, gritting her teeth, trying not to go completely insane with computer continually shutting down- "blue screen of death"….so cranky, finally had time, place and internet – and b... machine wouldn’t work. Next morning, same old, same old, but in rain – deep puddles everywhere, and mud being tracked into “house”. BoyRob bought glue and re-glued strip that seals roof from rain, dust, sand - will need a rubber stopper to prevent recurrence as there's a slight bow in roof (only 4 struts each end, no support in middle). 

GirlRob went back to common area of guesthouse scrunched in with other travellers – this time computer behaved but precious little internet with so many people trying to use at same time. It was easier to chat and get embroiled in the lives of the travellers - mainly bikers, many broken down, trying to order parts, or just waiting (and partying every night whilst waiting….). Some injured in desert, broken ankle, weepy lacerations and deep bruising, ouch. Old couple wondering if their dream trip is over with Range Rover needing total rebuild. Saturday night we enjoyed dinner with Jon and Jude at Oasis, heard their tragic story re their differential “explosion”, stranded here until parts arrive from UK.

Manager Sybill is a German, she’s just sold business and returning home after 18 years. Started out working with prisoners, stories of how unsophisticated UB used to be, deer down from wooded hills walking streets, only one car in main street every half hour etc. Drove around central business district and explored some of the sights – more sophisticated perspective from the less developed part of town, its container markets, fresh animal skins for sale, overcrowding, blocked drains, deep ruts and potholes. With such a small and basically agrarian population there's not a lot of money for development (although the effects of mining are beginning to appear). Had good meal and bottle of red at an Indian restaurant - don't know where its sourced, but it was the best lamb and chicken in quite some time.  

Monday our Fuso was booked in for 30,000km service with Mongolian Star Melchers (and other two vehicles are having grease and oil changes – and all are having tyre rotations). We had met their top salesperson Huska, at EarthCruiser Caboolture when they inspected and put in an order (which is now unforgivably overdue) and he made us welcome – brought in managers and engineers to look at ours (so embarrassingly muddy and untidy with all compartments emptied for the tip upside down to get at the engine….)

GirlRob took advantage of first sunny day in three days to do laundry – with Ozzie uptown, had to hang washing on communal line in between bike leathers, sarongs and sleeping bags. Fortunately it was dry before a late afternoon sand storm blew through the capital. Had Mongolian vegetarian pasta - finely chopped salad with hot spaghetti ("interesting") for dinner at pub. Hopefully tomorrow will see the final work - tyres rotated, then we can head out of town towards Russia and Lake Baikal.....