We headed back to the ger camp to say our farewells to Peter and Ben and the various bikers we had met along the way and some new mates that we'd added. Of course Roger the Swiss guy had turned up with Alex and Thom the 2 German guys from a few countries back. They'd decided to continue to Vladivostok and ship their bikes back to Moscow and ride home. Ben was nowhere to be found and Peter had gone out walking, so I left my Aussie hat for Dave the Scottish mining 'security' guy as he'd admired it the night before and I wasn't going to welsh on that.
We rode north and were pleasantly surprised by the generally good road. As good as there are, they can still throw up metre diameter pot holes just where you don't need them.
Once we'd left Iran, and farm stock became more common we were on constant alert for stock on the road. These are horses, but there'd been goats, cattle, camels, yaks, dogs (friendly and not so!) as well as the people.
This was approaching the Russian border where gers were getting fewer and far between. More and more Mongolians were becoming settled and building homes and fences.
Our last land border crossing was pretty straight forward and we were back in mother Russia again and made it to Ulan-Ude by dusk. Our plan was to ride to Lake Baikal and camp up near Turka, but the weather was now becoming less settled and we decided to stay at the hotel and do a ride up there for the day. We had a bit of rain on the way up but once it cleared it was ok. Baikal holds 25% of the world's fresh water.
On the way up we met A1 and A2, Austrians we had met in Goreme, Turkey and again at least 2 other places. I should remember their names, but if they read this, they can let me know again.
It was windy at the lakeside, but very pretty. Lots of picnickers and campers.
Small Russian villages seem to be doing it pretty hard and most houses are pretty rundown, but occasionally you see a cared for one.
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