tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13938832303658500532024-02-19T06:05:16.946+00:00Bikerafting in MongoliaJames Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01571586992687894715noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393883230365850053.post-11803130981046564702013-03-31T13:42:00.002+01:002013-04-03T00:45:06.607+01:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On 14 September 2012, my brother and I touched down
in the small, provincial airport of Moron, in northern Mongolia.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was the start of a month-long
cycling and packrafting (bikerafting) adventure intended to take us through the
wilds of Mongolia.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The idea for the trip was conceived on a week-long canoe trip through Algonquin
National Park, Canada. We wanted to go bigger and better next time; something
more exciting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so we found
ourselves under the big blue skies of Mongolia, armed with a 2 bikes, 2
trailers, a month's supply of spaghetti bolognaise and the spirit of adventure.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our home for the month was the province of Khovsgol aimag, in northern Mongolia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A region dotted with mountains, rivers, wolves and bears; with clear blue lakes scattered like sapphires on the grasslands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A spot between the plains of the Mongolian Steppe and the wilds of Russian Siberia. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #444444; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The plan was to make a loop by cycling for three weeks to the Delger Moron
river, taking our bikes apart, strapping them to our packrafts, and paddling our
rafts downstream to wind up back at our starting point. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was an extraordinary trip. The weeks of careful planning were rewarded. Where
else could you cycle through majestic snow-capped mountains and past
pre-historic lakes. Wake up under a full moon so bright it obscures the stars.
Float down crystal clear water, circled by eagles overhead and great</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1393883230365850053" name="_GoBack"></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> fish beneath. Cycle beside wild ponies and Bactrian camels.
And be asked for tea, quite by chance, in an Olympic medal-winner's ger.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We
thought we would put together a blog of our </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">trip.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">If
you have any questions or comments, please let us know:</span> </span><a href="mailto:jhjrobson@gmail.com" style="color: #444444;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">jhjrobson@gmail.com</span></a><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James
and Alex. </span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->James Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01571586992687894715noreply@blogger.com1