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We have lovely drive for the last 200 miles to leave Russia and cross into Mongolia. We are now back up to about 2000 metres above sea level, so the air is cool. Lots of cows and other aninimals decided to park themselves on the lovely roads with sweeping mountain bends and scenery to match.
We stop for breakfast, an ommlette and tea. Then all of our stomachs start churning over and most of us for the rest of the day have to stop on the side of the road to evacuate our bowels. We come to the conclusion that it must have been the stew and mashed potatoes we all had had the night before. Horrendous!
Finally we get to the border and it's holiday week coming up in Mongolia so a very slow process but we eventually got through after about 5 hours. Mongolia insist on vehicle road tax and insurance, so we got that as part of the border crossing process.
It's now about 7pm in the evening and finally we leave the border crossing and get into Mongolia proper. It's about 50 miles to Uglii where we hope to get a hotel for the evening. Nick has gone ahead with Garry to scout one out. So me, Steve, Chris and John ride together for this last leg. We are looking after John as his Ducati is playing up, misfiring and will not rev above 4000rpm.
We get to Uglii and spot Nick and Garry waiting on the side of the road for us. Chris pulls up first and when he stopped the bike he missed his footing and the bike fell over and him with it. Unfortunately the bike caught his right leg shin and was in a lot of pain. Local people helped us to get an ambulance to the local hospital. He was subsequently diagnosed with a broken leg. Poor chap.
Later we all went to hospital, which was very very basic and the doctor said his leg needed to be pinned and the best place to do that would be in the hospital in Ullabatar. Then travel insurance kicks in and Chris is left to wait on what happens next. His leg was strapped up and at least we got him back to our hotel where he spent the night. The manager of the hotel was brilliant, she could speak English and is helping with everything including getting Chris's bike to Ullabatar where it can be shipped back to England.
Chris's riding and room mate, John, said he would stay with Chris and forego riding the last leg to Ullabatar. Very kind of him and I am sure that Chris will appreciate the company and assistance that John can give.
A long day but at least we have made it to Mongolia and the last few days of our epic journey.
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