In 2005, I had one of the best cycle rides of my life when I was in a group of 16 who cycled across the Khangai Mountains of Mongolia. We cycled among the nomads camping in the wild for our overnight stops. There were no roads and no towns.
The nomads lived in gers and followed the yaks high up into the mountains. A ger is a tent, the same as a Russian yurt. When we passed a cluster of gers, the people came out and it was a fantastic experience as the nomads waved to us. Occasionally, they would ride with us on horseback. On one occasion, I was out on my own cycling as fast as I could on a downhill stony trail. A horseman came up from an encampment 400 metres away to join me. He galloped at full speed alongside me as I put everything I had into that downhill trail. I kept up with him until the hill ended. He joined us at our lunch stop.In Mongolia, despite the desert, there are a fantastic number of birds. A great experience was to watch kites swoop down to the ground in our camp sites, seemingly unafraid of us.
Coming soon in 2011, there will be more cycle rides for wildlife. Please keep watching my blog
Mongolia sounds like such an amazing trip and that is a story I haven't heard from you before. Makes me want to search for an experience for you to try to beat it? Africa perhaps?
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to hearing more about the rides for wildlife you have planned and hope I can make it along to one! Keep up the blog! Am enjoying it!
Liking the sound of your ride through France and Spain. Can I sit in one of your paniers like a side car please (o:
ReplyDeleteI look forward to hearing more about your cycle rides with the Wildlife Trust!
Aurevoir xxx