It’s August 24th, and my last day for the next weeks into a sedentary and sheltered lifestyle. I’m now in the main square, sitting on a bench in with my backpack and bike panniers – or my modern “ger”. Same city, different experience. I’ll be sleeping in the train on my way to Erdenet tonight, but afterwards, I don’t really know where I’ll be sleeping: almost certainly I will be in my tent, somewhere along the road, in a convenient spot. In North American standards, Mongolia is essentially one big campground.
After walking to every single bike store and open air market existing in Ulaanbaatar, I’ve settled with an Alton Touroad that I found at the shop Alton Mongolia (see picture above for the bike). It was essentially the most affordable bike with simple mechanics that would hopefully not break down on me. The guys were super helpful and generous with their time there. Given the “mocha color” of the bike, I think it will earn the nickname of “modern camel” or “mechanical camel” – still have not set my mind on either or. I also did a “visa run” to China earlier this week which was successful in getting me a 60 days visa at the border. The border guard asked me if I liked Mongolia when he saw the exit stamp out of country fresh of one hour ago only. I told him that I loved Mongolia, and that was all I needed to re-enter the country.
Now that my international friends from the fieldcourse have gone, and that my Mongolian friends are going back to school or to work, it’s time to dive into what I have set time aside for: bikepacking. It’s pretty much the first year since I am 4 years old that I am not in school. While it’s been incredibly challenging and rewarding, it certainly became a comfort zone of its own kind, where schedule, calendar rhythm and daily routines was dictated by my academic endeavors. Now, there is much less ahead that I know of, and I have to make sure to stay accountable to myself and to my intentions.
I am about to reset my watch: from now on, time will count in terms of daylight hours only.
Fair winds from the Land of Eternal Blue Skies,
PASSEGGIO 