Leaving the Övörkhangai region, we were heading to the Khorgo-Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park Region, to climb Khorgo, an extinct volcano (not too high) and see the Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake (the Great White Lake).

The drive there was typically bone-shaking and I think by the end I was a good half an inch shorter due to spine compression. We were in Jagga's car today, separated from our fav car mates. Luckily, at the stops Taivna and Luke were able to exchange insults both old and new.

Our stops today consisted of a river, a gorge and a monastery partially saved from Soviet destruction (but now a museum rather than a functioning monastery).

As we moved north we have moved to a higher elevation and to some colder weather. Hopefully we have left the rain behind (it has seemed to follow us since the disastrous climb).

Anyway, after driving along a mixture of made and unmade roads (which I have seen described as "sporty") we reached the Ger hotel in a valley near the base of Khorgo.

As we had a couple of hours free, I borrowed a bucket from Jagga and did a good amount of hand washing. Given it was washing out the dust from the Gobi, a lot of rinsing was required and thankfully the bathroom was quiet so I could use all the sinks.

I have added a photo of the inside of our Ger (pretty standard) just to show the glamorous life of a traveller (in case you were under any illusions).

The next morning dawned clear and cold, and we were off to climb Khorgo, an extinct volcano (last active about 10,000 yrs ago). The view from the top was stunning and Cathy, Sandford (narrating through his camera - although I think I made his video R Rated as I skidded once when I was walking behind him and dropped an expletive), Anne, Luke, Taivna and I walked around the top of the caldera.

It was a nice walk, with amazing wildflowers the whole way round. It was there, however, that I found out that despite Taivna professing love for me in Russian so I could understand - pre-bromance (see Russian lessons totally worth it) he didn't actually know my, Anne or Cathy's name. We put paid to that! Apparently over here, men speak mainly to men, and address the man rather than the woman. Taivna has now been westernised a little bit more.

That afternoon we were off seeing lava tubes and the Great White Lake. Which was serene and a lot larger than it first looked. While one of the ladies went for a swim in the lake, we went to the local shops and bought some vodka (surprised?).

As we had some time before dinner, we had some pre-dinner drinks, and then some more... by dinner we (well I) was a bit tipsy. I don't think I got away with it. We ended up having some good after dinner drinks with Hashi, Jagga (apparently it was his first vodka in years) and Robert and Tempe (remember - banter from 19thC). To give you an idea, I can imagine Robert, when he is in the front seat saying "onward my good fellow, and don't spare the horses!". I say that, but it was very interesting hearing about Robert's life.

This morning (Luke and) I was a little delicate for the drive to our first stop in Northern Mongolia, where we would be making our way to Lake Khovsgol.