Altansukh got the gasoline we needed, so at about 8am we left Dadal. I think the original plan was to leave early, insuring that we would reach Ulaanbaatar by tonight. Well, it didn't happen, but I didn't think it would, either.
Altansukh must not have gotten much sleep, because he kept dozing off at the wheel. A few times it was a little scary, but generally it meant rough riding. And even though he was really tired, Altansukh wasn't going to admit it, of course. So when he became excessively tired he would pull over and 'check the engine'. We all knew and, I think, he knew we knew, but hey...
It was rainy today and that meant many puddles on the road, which is really a dirt track. What I'm driving at is more rough riding.
We stopped at the same place as we did last time for airak, which were the gers by the small lake. This time I took two polaroid pictures of them, and they seemed very pleased.
And, we did reach Ondorkhaan. As a matter of fact, we checked in at the Communist Party Hotel here. That means electricity and TV!
As I have said before, this trip to the Onon River has been great. My driver was great, my interpreter was great, and my hosts have been great. The countryside is the place to see here!
I've talked quite a lot with Battoya. She may have an opportunity to go to Montana next year. She asked me if I could send her a TOEFL exam prep book. I'll also send her some adventure/sci-fi books. She wants to become a lawyer in international law and study in the US.
Altansukh plans on going to the US, too. He is a bit older, but he's a very enterprising type of person. He wants to see the place, work there a little. I told him he could start off by making decent money as a cabdriver.
I think the next(?!) time I come to Mongolia, it won't be as expensive, because now I've a few friends in Battoya and Batbold.
Tomorrow, it's Ulaanbaatar.