Day 12: Gobi Cold Camel Expedition
31st Jan 2018
Today I fell asleep while I was riding my camel, I must be tired!
My camel wandered away from the others while we were walking along the ridge and no one realised I was asleep until my camel put its head down to graze and I fell forward, slumped over its hump.
It's our last day on camels so we make the most of it, reliving some our favourite things. One of our highlights on the trip has been playing tigy and we often joke with the herders that they'd make great cutting camels - they can certainly turn and boost it when needed.
It's just an 18km ride today and God must be smiling on us because it's only -5 degrees. Big Man is relieved it hasn't been this warm for the entire ride as it wouldn't truly represent the Gobi in winter. He says the sky and God have welcomed us very well and Mother Nature gave us everything she had. He is so proud we experienced and overcame the coldest night of the year when even animals froze to death, violent wind storms, snow and ice. This is what winter is like for the nomads and it's a true survival of the fittest.
We come down the ridge into a valley and stop for a hot drink and photos. In the distance we see big horn sheep and a huge herd of camels who make their way over to investigate. I walk among them while the guys have a snow fight and although they're curious there's no chance of patting one. Nose pegs show that many are ridden, but they are probably lassoed each time they're needed like we've seen them do with ours.
We remount and cross the last valley, riding into a Ger surrounded by stone Ovoos. Our ride is over; 12 days and 300km are behind us and I feel like I'm only just getting into the swing of things! We gather round for photos with the team and say our goodbyes to the herders, who head out with the camels before sunset.
Our last night is spent reminiscing over our ride and as I look around I realise the people I've met and memories I've made will stay with me for life. It's been an incredible journey and I'm not the same person I was when I arrived in the Gobi. I have one more week in Mongolia, starting with a 500km drive back to UB tomorrow, then I'm off in search of Przewalski horses; the only truly wild horses in the world.
[This is the 12th update in a 15 part series, if you'd like to follow the rest of my journey in the Gobi Camel Camel Expedition LIKE my page for daily photos and blogs]!
