Erenhot to Saynshand
Trip Start
May 22, 2007
1
7
35
Trip End
Jul 01, 2007
Saynshand, Mongolia
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Two hours later we had finally exited China and queued for entry into Mongolia alongside a line of decrepid lorries with bent chassis and cracked tyres devastated by the desert heat. The start was delayed by one hour but this offered the chance to talk with an English couple who were cycling around the world and happened to reach the border at the same time. They estimated their trip will take 5 years!. They left on their way to a chorus of car horns from all the competitors eagerly awaiting their start time. After a short stretch of tarmac we headed off into the desert and began to see the disadvantage of travelling and trying to overtake other cars and their dust trails. We were due to cover 222 km and 100 km was a timed special test. Many cars suffered problems before they even reached the test start. We clouted several large rocks with the sumpguard and we were pleased that no major damage was caused. However, it made us vigilant as driving at 50 mph on sand needs fast reactions to avoid hidden gulleys and rocks as they appeared on our route. We survived with no fuel problems and only a large dent in the sumpguard as a souvenir. As we queued for fuel in Saynshand the sky darkened and a sand storm approached. The sunlight disappeared and we were blasted with grit as Richard filled the tank with 60 litres of fuel and half a kilo of sand! We pitched our tent in the shelter of the car and ate a luke warm evening meal. Many of the cars were stranded in the desert and arrived at the camp in the early morning having slept in their cars waiting for the storm to pass. Many cars were damaged and would have to limp on to Ulaan Baator. The next day was declared uncompetitive and for many crews that was a huge relief.
