LONG WAY HOME - 27th May 2005 Zamyn-Uud, Mongolia Mick: 9.30am sees us at the railway station at Zamyn-Uud. Weight limit for goods on the train, in the baggage car, is 130kg, but we are given the nod that this could be extended to 200kgs 'in the right circumstances'! Sue's bike on first, all panniers etc. removed. It is the lightest, and I tell them my 'bike weighs the same... 209kgs. Much shaking of heads, conferring, and we're OK. Didn't expect them to weigh mine too though... 220kgs... shit! A little 'baksheesh' and we're OK... now Sue has to rush off and see if she can get tickets for us to travel on the same train, the 6.10pm to Ulaan Bataar! Our luck's in once again, and it costs about fifty quid for our 'bikes, baggage and us, for the 500 plus miles back to UB... a bargain we say!
I supervise the loading of our 'bikes, we go for a meal... and wait. The train is comfortable, the seats fold out into bunks, and we share the cabin with a young man and his older work colleague. He speaks excellent English, works in the tax department, and we spend a pleasant evening improving his English and our knowledge of Mongolia. I daydream as I look out of the window and the Gobi desert unfolds in a different light. Sue said it was like saying 'goodbye' to the Gobi as we headed north back through it.. it was. Mile after mile of endless sand, wild horses, camels, and in the middle of nowhere, someone would be walking... alone... to somewhere. I shall never forget the Gobi. To cross it has been without doubt one of the hardest things I have ever done, but an experience I would not swop for anything... ever!
Sunday morning, 11am, and I'm 'supervising' the unloading of the 'bikes. All is well for they have been packed in tight with large soft bails of something or other. As ever people are curious about them, prodding and poking, pulling, touching and kicking tyres. Without asking they will cock a leg over them while you're trying to load them up, stamping on the brake and gear levers, twisting the throttle, flicking switches etc. But they mean well and are ever helpful to give assistance... even when not required. Lunchtime and we're back in the Khongor Guest House with a warm welcome from Degi and Toro. Bike's locked up and secure, coffee, and best of all... a hot shower. Down to 'Dave's Place' for a full 'all day' English breakfast, a bier... and all is well. Russian visas to be obtained and 'The Long Way Home' continues....