Yesterday they rode a little more than 400km. Today they rode approx. 500km. The roads got better as they passed the town Altai, the trails were slightly improved. It's been hot and the Westwards wind has been accompanying them from their first day in Mongolia. They've pitched a tent in a clearing

Last night was good, the mattresses fine but they slept a so called "rolling-sleep".

It's been 5 days since their last shower and they're very pleased not to have any female company as the smell isn't very pleasant and it's not likely that they'll get a bath until they get to the capital.

They've ridden on the same pair of tires from the start, 11.600km. In spite of having the spare tires they don't plan on changing them at this point.

For the past 2 days they've been using 80oktain gas which is very poor but the bikes have performed 100% and continue to be very good.

When they reported home they were lighting up the 'stove' and the dinner for tonight is a loaf of bread, noodles and Einar suspected that the "Tour Guide", aka Sverrir, might have some Coca Cola hidden away. They were drinking tea and there was a possibility of some dessert although the Tour Guide wouldn't promised anything. Today they got to a store but there wasn't much to find there, mostly just water and chocolate.

They send their best from Mongolia.

They've been riding in the heat and dust today (no report of how far they went). The roads are like washboards and they're very dirty, Sverrir's beard has even turned black!

This was the first time they camped and dinner was baked beans, dry bread and water. Riding is still a joy but they're getting tired.

Hrafnhildur and Gestur Einar from the Icelandic radio spoke with them this morning. 

This morning they headed out rather early as they had to get to a store that opened at 9am.

When they arrived at the borders there was a blackout so they had to backtrack about  50km to the town where they spent last night in order to get more gas.

Entering Mongolia from Russia took about 3 hours. Everything went well but sorting out the papers always takes time. Bernard, the Swiss, was at the borders heading back to Russia having given up on the dirt roads in Mongolia.

The scenery reminds them of Iceland. It's as if they're riding on Sprengisandur or Kjölur. This shouldn't be very surprising as Mongolia is a volcanic country.

Today they rode 320km, thereof 220 in Mongolia.

As they day went on they arrived in a small town where they were offered to stay. They decided not to accept as they didn't feel secure with all the gear and the bikes. Instead they rode on until they found a Travelers Hut where they slept tonight.

The altitude is 2.185m and they've estimated 5 days for the trip to Ulan-Bator, the capital of Mongolia. 

This morning before they left the Mrs at the hotel brought Einar a bar of chocolate as a birthday present.

They started off in decent weather and rode towards the Altai mountains. A bikers dream, twists and turns, hills and valleys. Went up to an altitude of 1700, down to 750m and then again up to 1800m.

The borders are at 2100m altitude which is about the same as Hvannadalshnjúkur in Iceland. Yesterday they got all the way there but because they couldn't get a place to stay the night they had to go back 50km only to get an unheated room with an outside WC. "Wonderful" was their word for it. They'd bought a loaf of bread, some cheese, sausage and beers for supper.

It's been cold, only 5-9°C (41-48°F) and windy. But the scenery is lovely and nice to ride through it.

Tomorrow they're going in to Mongolia and will be riding there for a few days and look around before heading to the capital.