We joined Nick, Andrea and their girls (India and Claudia) for an excursion on horseback out to the Gengis Khan monument. It was very hot and the horses idled along as you would expect. We passed some cool looking Yaks (our first big woolie cows) and a large bird of prey giving a hare a bit of trouble.

The monument is very impressive. A 30m high stainless steel statue of Gengis on a horse and located where mythology says he found the ‘Golden Whip’. The base of the complex is beautifully finished and houses an intersting bronze age museum along with the usual resturant and curio shops. It has only recently opened to the public and there are grand plans to build a theme park (history and culture, not rides) around it. They have installed an elevator in the horses back legs for lazy tourists. A short walk through the stomach and up some staris and you are on the viewpoint on top of the horses head. Great spot. All in polished stainless so hot you could have fried an egg on it. Very well done Mongolia!

On the way back we rode past a section of the great wall – well actually a fake one that was used for a movie set. The horses were twitchy. Nick increased the pace and pulled out ahead of the group that was still following the guides (who where leading the kids). The usual “home-stretch horseplay” ensued. My horse picked up the pace followed by Andrea’s which then broke into a gallop. Not to be outdone (and admitedly with a little encouragement from me) my steed cranked it up to 11 careening past Andrea, ears flat, FULL gallop, flat out and out of control. I have never gone so fast without a helmet or engine and reliable steering and brakes. Apparently it ‘looked’ very cool. All I know is that by the time I got him to stop, by almost yanking his head off, my calves were burning and the adrenalin was flowing fast and furious. Both Andrea and I where shaking. That was an experience I would not want to take the chance of repeating.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, V had somehow managed to keep her horse under control. She’s well practised on me I guess 😉 We hobbled back to our Ger with sore muscles, battle-scars and bruises. A ‘fun’ day on the steppes with a good local beer to top it all off. Perfect.

– Posted from my iPhone