2017/08/18

Day 20: Charchorin - Ulaanbataar

Actually the day started very well, Sara felt better, breakfast was nice. We want to make an excursion without the panniers, but during the preparation I'm getting aware that the rear shock is oily. Trevor also means that I should not ride off-road under this circumstances. Such a crap! Bought a new shock absorber just before the journe. So I decide to continue to Ulaanbataar immediatel to find a workshop there.

At least I want to visit the monastery. Will probably not come here again very soon and the monastery belongs to one of the most important sights. I am fortunate to experience the monks singing and have some nice encounters.

I also move the prayer drums, perhaps it helps to solve my problem. The monastery reminds me of the Chinese monasteries.

Without much stops I'm heading to Ulaanbataar, just buying some chocolate bars, a cola, a few short photo stops. Partially it's getting more touristy. I'm stopped to take a picture of a dune landscape. Immediately the the camel-drivers were approaching to persuade me to ride on the camels. The people here are more accustomed to tourists, and the friendliness is different to the one in the rural areas of the last days.

At a police checkpoint, I am stopped by two cool policemen wearing sunglasses. Actually, I did not drive too fast and slowly take off the helmet and remove my earplugs - just to be able to assess the situation a little bit better. The two are already talking about my bike and we have some communication without really to understand each other. I'm doing a selfie with the policemen and later send it to my friends so that they are prepared, when they pass by tomorrow.

Not far from Ulaanbataar I meet two Czech and two Russian motorcyclists and we have some chat. The traffic in Ulaanbataar is different - very fast speed, overtaking left and right side, honking - but I like it. I have to cross the city from west to east to get to my next accommodation, the Oasis, the hotspot for the overlander and motorcycle traveler here.

There offer 6 Gers and a hostel. I take a small Ger for me alone with a comfortable bed, but it costs about 33 euros. I have the first really hot shower with properly flowing water since Barnaul! And besides, two of the girls who are responsible here speak good German. I meet Reed, a young American who has bought the motorcycle from an Italian and wants to go to Denmark. There is also a young couple from New Zealand couple who want to rent or buy Chinese motorcycles for travelling through Mongolia.

After some messages with Thomas von Twowheels and Brigitte I get a direct contact to Wilbers, the manufacturer of the rear shock absorber. This guy tells me, that if the oil is not red but clear, the shock absorber itself is ok and probably only the pre-compression/spring preload is defective. Unfortunately, I'm forget to ask the guy for a service manual. And tomorrow is Saturday and weekend in Germany.