Farewell to our horses
N 51°21'785'' E 099°21'046''
Day: 103
Sunrise:
08:20
Sunset:
17:52
Total kilometers:
1146
Soil condition:
Ice, snow
Temperature – Day (maximum):
minus 18°C
Temperature – day (minimum):
minus 25°C
Temperature – Night:
minus 33°C
Latitude:
51°21’785”
Longitude:
099°21’046”
Maximum height:
1475 m above sea level
Bilgee is really dirty in the morning. As already experienced in Mörön, he is ill and hardly able to do anything. Nevertheless, he helps Tulgaa to feed our horses the cooked porridge. Then he lies down again. His body is plagued by chills and he complains of a headache.
Around midday it’s only minus 18 °C. Before Tulgaa leaves, we each eat a large mug of stew that Tanja has cooked. Then Tulgaa saddles Sharga and loads the remaining 15 kilograms of oats into the saddlebags. The farewell is short. Tulgaa waves to us and drives Naraa, Sar, Bor, Tenger and Od ahead of him. Tanja is a little wistful. She looks sadly after our horses. A few tears run down her cheeks. “Please call me when you get to Mörön,” I call after Tulgaa. “I will!” he replies. “It won’t be easy for him,” I say quietly, turning back to the yurt. “A new stage of our journey begins now,” says Tanja on the way to our Mongolian house. “Yes, the horses are gone. Now it’s time to prepare for the winter and ask the Tsataans if we can live with them,” I reply. “Are you relieved not to have to look after the horses from now on?” asks Tanja. “Hm, it was mostly Bilgee and you anyway. But I’m still glad to know they’re in a good wintering place. There’s not enough food here and Ayush mentioned the wolf problem again yesterday. He has already lost two calves this winter because of them. So the horses would have no chance of survival here. And if they did, someone would have to spend day and night with them. Impossible. So I’m actually very happy that our animals are going to Mörön. They have a real chance of surviving the winter there. I don’t think the military will let us down in this matter. Besides, Major Batjargal wants his remaining windows for his prison,” I reply, relieved indeed.
In the afternoon, Bilgee and Tanja fetch kughdung from the cow enclosure, which Bilgee pours by the wheelbarrowful onto the edge of our yurt. “This is the best insulation,” he promises with a grin. During the night, I measured minus 10 °C on the ground in our felt house. Considering that the temperatures at night are “only” between minus 25 °C and minus 30 °C at the moment, it’s remarkably cold. We have to use the time Bilgee is still with us to get the yurt ready for winter. As he is also very experienced in this area, we are pleased that he has agreed to help us until all the work has been completed. Only then will he return to Erdenet.
“Lie down again Bilgee. You don’t look well at all,” I tell him to stop working for today. Quite unusually, he then actually stops work, goes into the yurt and crawls under his winter roof. We actually wanted to start building the Wandan (loft bed) today. An important set-up because of the cold floor in the yurt. “You won’t freeze anymore. Let’s start tomorrow,” promises Bilgee.
I discuss with Tsendmaa whether we can use the wooden planks lying in front of our yurt for the Wandan. “Ayush will sell you the piece for 6,000 tugrik (€3.42),” she says. “Fine, I’ll take them. We’ll start tomorrow,” I reply, glad that I don’t have to ask around the village where we can get boards.
Initially, we weren’t keen on having to stay here at Ayus for the next six weeks until the ice cover over the river is firm enough to cross safely with a four-wheel drive truck. Now, however, we are happy to be able to use the time for preparation.
We look forward to your comments!
