Shelter from the rain

Day 22

Distance traveled: 56.9 km

Day 23

Distance traveled: 12.5 km

Day 24

Distance traveled: 32.1 km

Position: N45° 26 E105° 17

Top picture: Entering the town of Delgerhangay

Middle picture: Kids playing on our buggy

Bottom picture: Shelter from the rain

We woke up in a maze of rolling hills. We spent the day navigating our way through, kiting when we could and hauling at other times. By late afternoon we hit better terrain and with our 7 meter kites in the air, we held an upwind tac, trying to stay on our bearing. The light of the moon allowed us to kite well after the sun had set, stopping just a couple kilometres outside the town of Delgerhangay.

The next morning we woke to an overcast humid day with head winds. We hauled the remainder of the distance into Delgerhangay. A young girl who saw us approaching quickly introduced herself and insisted showing us around the town. She brought us to all 5 food shops in town. Along the way an increasing crowd of kids grew. Once we had picked up some extra food and filled our bags with water, the rain started to fall. It was useless to try to explain to the young girl that we should continue on our way as she had a tour of the town planned out for us. First stop was a cozy ger that was home to the elders. As the rain poured down, we sat inside and drank milk tea, showing the elders pictures of home. The kids played outside with our buggies, racing them around the block. About 8 kids would be pushing, pulling and riding the buggies.

Once we finished our second cup of tea, the girl motioned that we must go somewhere else, guiding us to the music room in the local school. Horse head fiddles and other instruments that I had never heard of hung from the wall. After the music teacher demoed all the instruments, she handed us both two instruments and attempted to teach us how to play. Next stop, the girl led us to her family's ger for a third cup of tea and some cookies. She eagerly flipped through her family picture album.

By afternoon, once the rain had stopped, we waved goodbye to the kids and hauled out of town. We didn't get very far till a sand storm blew in. Hoping it would pass, we covered our faces, sitting in our buggies waiting. As soon as the blowing sand ceased, the skies turned dark and the rain started to fall hard. We could hear the thunder and see bolts of lightning.

It was about this time that a family driving to their ger spotted us. Even though we explained that we had a tent, they insisted that we must head to their ger for shelter till the storm passed. Only a couple kilometre away, we all huddled inside a small felted ger. The stove in the middle was stocked with small twigs from the bushes and dried shit. Soaked to the bone, we accepted tea and meat soup, slowing warming up. When the rain cleared for a couple hours, they brought us outside and let us ride their horses. We then all moved up to the neighbouring ger, which was much bigger. As the rain started again, 12 of us and 4 baby goats sat inside sipping on tea. Everyone found their spot on the floor and we all fell asleep.

The next morning was cold, but the clouds were clearing from the sky. The family we stayed with woke up early and were busy rounding up their herds and started slaughtering a couple of sheeps.

We thanked them and waved goodbye. With head winds we hauled all day, slowly inching our way up what seemed to be a never ending hill.

Sarah