Current timezone

For those interested in such things, my current timezone is BST - 6 (UTC - 7).

Excuse the blog post dump

A lot of older bits there, but I needed to get them posted.

I can now start on the South America stuff and make an attempt at some reflections on the first 120 days.

The last Ger (not yurt) camp (day 118)

I am here: 47 45.843 N 105 52.744 E at 1316m as of 20/08/2013 09:40 BST http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:47.76406,105.87907

The last of the Ger camps.

Cold and wet when we arrived, so lit the fire in the Ger. Warm and toasty in no time.
The weather changed, as it does in Mongolia, and warm and sunny outside + fire inside = very toasty.

Managed to see heard of wild horses (only of their type in Mongolia). About 30 of the 240 in the park.

The last bushcamp (day 117)

I am here: 47 47.366 N 102 48.956 E at 1363m as of 19/08/2013 http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:47.78943,102.81595

The benefits of group travel - being sick (day 117)

I am here: 47 13.437 N 102 47.656 E at 1472m as of 19/08/2013 http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:47.22396,102.79427

Group travel has many pros and cons, and overlanding has its own set in addition - you spend 24 hours a day living with total strangers, sometimes for a very long time (eg the other 3 people on tour with me who are doing the whole 120 days) and in close quarters, which is something few of us would do at home.

One of the advantages is that we all look after each other, from the little things like helping put up tents to helping those who get sick.
As per my last entry, I spent yesterday (as per the gps fix) being sick as a dog; a result of dodgy food.

So my thanks to all those on the truck who helped, from helping me put my tent up last night (got the luxury of the spare tent), who checked on me, provided me Vomax (need to get some), and generally nursed me a bit. Thank you all, you are the top of the list in the pros of Overlanding.

(side note: I said before I started this trip that I'd get something, so I'm amazed that I lasted this long without a proper stomach bug. Yes I've had food that's not agreed with me before, but this is the "proper" dose I've been expecting for a few days short of 4 months. Add in that as of Beijing I've only had 1 cold -  which given the 17000km we'd driven, the 30 people who'd passed through the truck and the many countries they'd all come from and travelled through, and the countless locals we'd met isn't bad - I think I'm doing fairly well. Hopefully Fate won't see this as a challenge.)

Interesting combinations (day 116)

I am here: 47 26.979 N 101 45.139 E at 1589m as of 18/08/2013 03:54 BST http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:47.44966,101.75233

Heavy D&V as a result of eating something which disagreed with me and bouncing across the landscape in the back of a Russian Minivan at high speed, sitting backwards.

2.5 days later and I'm mostly human again. Jim (the driver) mentioned in passing that he suspects it is the spring water at place and not the food, as "we've had a few people get sick after visiting there".

Digging time (day 114)

I am here: 47 24.893 N 101 45.933 E at 1600m as of 16/08/2013 07:23 BST http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:47.41489,101.76556

More road building, having collected rocks.
Lots of digging, specifically of the mud from under the truck.
Pulled out by 6 wheel drive Russian truck, which Dashka had acquired for us by walking many km to the nearest town (no mobile coverage, not that there is anyone to phone) through the pouring rain (in which we were digging, road building and then eating lunch).
The cuppa with lunch was most welcome.

Now a "proper" overland journey. :)

Was hot and sunny a couple of hours later.