So our last post left us stranded overnight at the Russian Mongolian border waiting to hop accross the 32km of no-mans land!

It was an early start for Sherman as he decided to wake up uber early and hike to the top of the big hill right next to the border and take pictures of the sunrise over Mongolia (see above). He took a few photos before realising that behind him was a border guard truck driving towards him, it drove right to him and put him in the back at gunpoint! He didn’t even get a chance to actually see sunrise! After an English speaker was found, he showed them lots of photos and was released… all before the rest of us had even woken up!

The early morning was then spent blagging our boats onto cars, vans and jeeps to get ourselves accross the border. It was all managed with a minimal charge of 500 Rubles (about 10 pounds). So everyone was split up and ready to cross the border. After being dragged around the many different border controls by my new non-english speaking Mongol friend and lots and lots of waiting, it was a nice scenic drive to the Mongol side.

At the Mongol side i was kicked out with my passport and left stranded at passport control as my driver sped away with my boat and all my kit into the distance. Sherman was dumped in the same way and once we had our passport stamped we ran out of the other side to find our Mongolian trucks loading on our boats. Apparantly they speed through the border to avoid paying tax and being searched - but boy did we poo our pants! Once at the other side we had a much needed afternoon snack with dumplings and noodle soup inside a Ger (mongolia tent).

Everybody had some amazing stories from one truck carrying 1.3 tonnes of beer, another getting a puncture in no-mans land and recieving tyres and pumps from other passers by but the most common being ditched at the border with all our kit left inside the vehicle.

We had a scary drive along tracks that didn’t even vaguely resemble roads to Olgi and that night we were fed and ewatered befored sleeping in a traditional Mongolian family Ger.

 The next day was the start of Nadaam, the famous traditional countrywide Mongolian festival; with wrestling, archery and horseback riding with an amazing market and opening ceremony.

We also took the opportunity to stock up on supplies for the next two weeks!

Today we split the group with half heading back into the altai to scout out some Mongolian rivers. The other half heading to the horseback riding part of the Nadaam. This was held on the top of a giant hill up amongst the mountains. It was a fantastic mongolian spectacle before we headed on to meet the others in the afternoon.

On leaving the festival our crazy driver Pakka almost ran over a few small children as we sped away. A little further on the needle on the speed-o was pushing the top end (not great as there was no real roads) and the van started to slide around and went over a large bump the van leaving the ground and taking some air before bouncing back down onto 2 wheels. Slightly further down the track Pakka managed to rear-end the car infront. After much heated discussion and a kid in the car infront telling us Pakka was drunk. We were almost left stranded as the car infront took our keys and started to drive away but Ben lept infront of the car to stop them getting away. We got the keys back and agreed that one of us would drive and follow them to the police station. Pakka negotiated and we ended up going home before the police came.

It looks like we might have to wait until tomorrow to meet the others! 

More photos… click here!!!!