Stunning Day 8

We are happy again! Day 8. Amazing.

I am not sure when we will get Wifi so there might be a flood of late posts coming here.

The rain finally cleared at the end of our rest day and the sun was almost out for our departure, but we had reports of a lot of water in the rivers we had to cross. We headed cross country and down stream for our first crossing on the advice of a local and found a place to cross. It was probably just-over-the-pegs deep but a rocky bottom but we all made it through ok. 

Crossing #2 was a bit deeper but better worn so not so many rocks and pretty OK.

Number 3 was wider and deeper and we looked OK. I actually had dry boots despite only wearing short boots. I hope Trevor Day is reading this: You probably don’t remember but when I first got my SL70 (at about 11 years old) you took me out along the banks in Taylors Bay, in first gear and standing on the pegs the whole way along the narrow tracks. I was thinking of you today crossing those rivers and keeping my boots dry. Thanks.

After a refuel in ‘town’ we headed about 50km down the road (through a quite deep causeway - still dry boots!) to a point only nerds like me could get excited about (Well - interested, perhaps not excited.) We were at exactly 50 Deg North, 100 West. Type ‘50,100’ into google earth. This has been the furthest north we go. At the lake we were basically in Siberia - at least with Siberia on 3 sides of us ...

From there we headed off road and started a fantastic day. Words and pictures can’t describe it. We passed between the 2 lakes (if you looked at Google earth), over a few passes and along huge open valleys. 

I went up the side of one hill to look out back across the lakes when suddenly there was a swarm of the local 150cc bikes coming my way from a Ger camp below. The whole family rode up to see me with huge smiles and great interest in my bike. We all took lots of photos and admired the view.

The riding from there was incredible. Either along the tracks or just off-piste across the fields. Hopefully the spot tracks shows our path.

Out in the middle of nowhere we stopped at some ~3,000 year old stone posts with carvings in them - Deer Posts they call them. After a lunch stop on a random concrete volleyball court in the middle of the valley, we continued on to a larger site with lots of deer posts and also lots of 6,000 year old round rock ....things, Khereksur. Not burial sites but more worship and preaching sites. You will have to look them up, sorry. There were 10’s, perhaps 100 of them around the valley.

A bit more riding and we were approaching town (Moron) past the airport where we stopped for more fuel. Unfortunately my bike was overheated - it had a hole in the radiator and was not in good shape. I had to ride in the UN Nissan to camp. 

I forgot to mention - my bike also lost its bash-plate under the motor earlier on the bitumen. I didn’t realise but the support crew picked it up. The guys were working late into the night trying to fix my bike ... fingers crossed. Otherwise I will be on the spare Tenere, which is not a big problem, but I am enjoying the KTM in these conditions and we are off road for a few days now.

The disco fired up at tonight’s Ger camp and the traditional cloths came our for ‘dress up’

The weather is expected to remain good, although there is a very thick smoke haze limiting our view, which is a shame. I have to look it up but I suspect the smoke is from peat fires in Siberia which is a big worry.