Cycle Tour - Ugii to Tsenkher - Mongolia - Day 1 (Third Stage)

We are riding from Ugii Lake to the Tsenkher Hot Springs, a distance of 109 km. This will take about seven and a half hours, and we will climb just over a thousand metres.

Plenty of rock formations on this stage, hills, and more hills, as well as grazing animals, horses, yaks and the township of Tüvshrüülekh 

Tyler riding through the rock formations.

In the distance is the township of Tüvshrüülekh, we will pass through, and ride up the hills on the other side.

Greg, Tyler, and Sandy coming into Tüvshrüülekh

Plenty of horses in this town, and they use the petrol station for shade.

I am fascinated by the cattle and livestock just wandering around the township, as there are no fences to corral them.

'Tüvshrüülekh is a sum (town) of Arkhangai Province in central Mongolia, and has 3,500 inhabitants.

Popped into the mini market for some snacks.

I'm guessing this  monument is from the communist era. Mongolia was known as the Mongolia People's  Republic until 1992, when it became a democracy.

This abandoned chimney still stands in the town.

Farewell Tüvshrüülekh, time to go to the top of the hill.

A timber Ovoo at the top of the hill.

Looking back towards Tüvshrüülekh

We're heading up that valley, to the Tsenkher Hot Springs.

 

So many birds of prey, this one is a Black Kite.

This was an idyllic valley.  A lake, some Ovoos, goats and sheep, and some yaks wandering around.

The sheep are in no rush.  Over the next hill was pasture, a river crossing, and more hills.

Still plenty of small animals scurrying about.

A ground squirrel.

At the end of this track, is the Hot Springs Tsenkher.

As we went past a small cluster of ger tents, I recognised this sign advertising airag, which is fermented horse's milk. 

More yaks and lots of ger camps, and some permanent buildings. Tsenkher Hot Springs.

Erik avoiding the yaks and the muddy ground, riding into Tsenkher Hot Springs.

That's our ger, the second from the front, the one with the yellow door.

Yak meat, potatoes, rice, and "Russian Salad" (corn, peas, potato, gherkin, mayonnaise), garnish of tomato and cucumber. Ice cream and cherry sauce for dessert.

We cycled from Ugii Lake to the Tsenkher Hot Springs, a distance of 109 km. This took seven and a half hours, and we climbed just over a thousand metres.