Back in the USSR! So good to have decent food again, in fact it was the first thing we did was get some cheese and chorizo 100m inside the border post. No probs through the borders, only took 3 hours all up. Interesting to note that where we crossed (tashanta crossing) that there is about 40 km of no-mans land. The arcane paperwork of the russians was what obviously took the most time. We have spent the last few days riding here to Barnaul. Had a rest day - this...

Well after 3.5 weeks im about to leave mongolia. Had a great time here, learnt to eat mutton and mutton fat for 3 meals a day, learnt to love flat, warm beer, ride motorbikes over rough roads with no signpostings, and learnt that rivers are not just for racing boats down but riding motorbikes across! Sounds like fun eh! It is fantastic! We have helped mongolians that have run out of fuel, helped change wheel bearings on their cars on the side of the road, repair...

Just finished changing the steering head bearigs. What a job! Took about 1.5 days, the difficuilty being that i did not have many (or any) of the special tools required. The others managed to do their suzukis in about 3 hours because the bearings were, it seemed, better designed for removal without the speacial tools. Anway, managed to get the whole thing apart without a problem and disassembled the stering shaft. Had to grind off the male part of the race from...

Made it into mongolia! No probs. After leaving the last internet cafe we got bailed up by some bikers in Ulan Ude who insisted on taking us for a ride through town and then to the shops where we stocked up on food and drinks and went back to max's house for a feast. we stayed at his house and had a fantastic evening, even partaking in a shower! I real shock to the system! Next day we were escorted out of town and made our way south to the border. Funnily enough ...

Just a quick update. I have just spent the last couple of days up at Lake Baikal, the largest freshwater lake in the world they say. Even bigger than the 5 great lakes combined! Anway, it is big, and very cold. We camped beside it and drank vodka beside it (when in russia do as the russians do!) About to head south now towards Mongolia. Will most likely be at the border crossing tomorrow at some stage and hopfully get in with the bike without a drama. Thanks to...