Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve
Trip Start
Jul 17, 2008
1
18
26
Trip End
Aug 16, 2008
Galuut bag,
Mongolia
Saturday, August 2, 2008
According to the itinerary, the journey to the reserve was supposed to occupy 2 hours of our time. It occupied 5. We had to stop at the tour office for supplies. We had to stop for gas. We had to stop for pee breaks. We had to stop to drop off supplies. This really turned into the local bus!
One neat place where we stopped for a few minutes was a hotel under consruction. On top of this hill, the hotel had a giant metalic Ghenghis Khan on horseback over the main building. The building was still under constructions but the statue was completed. An observation deck was visible along the saddle and presumably continuing to the horses head. This was not open. When completed, it would offer great views of the outer city.
When we arrived at the camp at 2 PM it was much later than anticipated. This reduced the number of activities that we could do with the eclipse time quickly approaching. In the end our yurt decided that euchre and sleep were good time passing activities.
When the eclipse was about the start about 10 of us gathered in a field and watched the sun closely. Well not really closely and not directly. Brooke brought with her three professional lenses used in the movie industry to look at the sun. When the time came for the eclipse (or when we thought it should be happening) we were disappointed that a cloud had jumped in front of the sun. And then another did. And another! Cloud after cloud seemed to be going out of its way to block the sun. Not fair! Finally the clouds relented and the sun shone directly on us. The eclipse was very visible. It was clear that the moon was covering part of the sun. It was even clearer with eclipse viewers that our guide was given by an eclipse-chasing group. They blocked most light out so only the sun was visible. I have a few pictures of the eclipse through this viewer that turned out very well.
Our final team dinner was outside in a gazebo. It was goat. Or sheep. Ugh. When I get home, I really, really, really want a nice medium-rare steak. Or a burger. Or sushi. Just no mutton and no goat. Maybe I'll add more to this list after China.
When dinner wrapped up we held a team meeting. We talked about our favorite memories and possible difficulties when getting back into the 'real world'. When you're with a group that is so close it's quite a jolt when things change so drastically and suddenly. But this group will be able to adjust with few problems. That's why we got along so well in the first place.
When night rolled in the stars were even more beautiful than in the Gobi because the moon wasn't visible. The sky was absolutely incredible.
And then the fire started. It was a campfire in a concrete pit but a fire non-the-less. The fuel appeared to be raked from the dry grass - none really good. But everyone went into their yurts and brought out whatever wood had been left behind. Thus we ended up with a pretty good supply of wood.
The mini-guitar came out and we were treated to the main event. The main event was a song about the Habitat group sung by Ashik to the tune of Piano Man by Billy Joel. The song mentioned everyone at least once and left us laughing and in tears. Our laughter and our comraderie lured a travelling Brit into our fold and she enjoyed the songs. And the wine.
We kept things civil on this last night. People were just spent after two weeks of non-stop work and partying. It was time to end the evening, end the trip. And so we put out the fire and the evening was over.
On Saturday the plan was to head to down the river to watch wild animals. There were 19 people interested in riding a horse the 7 or so kms. 10 or so horses showed up. While the guide went to round up more horeses (they were supplied by the locals), I went to pick up my bike. I decided that biking would be a better and probably more consistent way to get to the watering hole. This allowed me to leave while the group figured out the horse situation.
The bike was yellow, basic and had front shocks. It was adequate to the task but nothing great. The terrain wasn't great for biking. There were many sections of just sand or small rocks, neither of which provide a lot of grip for the tires.
My bike ride out was great. I rode through a herd of wild cows and yaks. We both ignored each other. I rode past the end of the road. It ended at a large washout. I rode up and down hills. In all I rode about 8 km. I stopped where the river seemed to split or multiple rivers joined up and a few groups of animals had gathered.
I walked by bike up a hill and set to watching. I watched two groups of wild horses as they hung out by the water. A large group of ravens flew overhead at one point. I watched them closely having recently seen Birds. They kept to themselves.
After a bit I moved to another hill where I could get a better view of some sheep and goats. There was no noise except from the river, the animals and myself. It was so isolated and peaceful. I was inspired to leave behind a little marker so I made a (very poorly constructed) anuk shuk.
Satisfied with my work I left the hill and started to bike back. Not two minutes into my ride back, my tire blew. So that left with me a long, tiring, really hot, annoying walk back to the camp. I ran into the riders so I had some company for a while but it was still all of the above.
I got back to the camp exhausted, thirsty and starving. Luckily Alex had water waiting and lunch was being served.
After lunch I rested. Others went to see how locals castrate horses and brand them. I really wasn't interested, and some of those two went, didn't enjoy the experience. I certainly enjoyed my nap.
We had a quick dinner at the camp and drove back to the city. This drive was the beginning of the end. Trevor and Flo (from Calgary) were taking the midnight flight out. They were the first of the group to leave. There was much sadness and tears as we left the bus and said our goodbyes.
We went into the hotel and Alex and I had been assigned a new room. This one had two problems. The first is that the window wouldn't close. This would let train, dog and other backyard noise in at night. The more serious problem was the sewage stains on the bathroom floor. We went down to the lobby to get a new room. Perhaps due to a miscommunication, they dispatch someone to clean the bathroom floor. Eventually we get a new room. It was a smoking room but the bathroom floor was clean. C'est la vie!
Alex and I unpacked and repacked our bags in prepartion for heading to China the next day.
