Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
pedition reports, complete with hand-drawn maps to previously untrodden places
sitting virtually unknown in Moscow. This untapped source could be a gem, I
thought; and my mind fired up instantly, making grand, but momentary, plans to set
up an adventure travel business bringing tourists to the wildest places in the former
USSR.
We agreed to ride with them back to the road, and if possible, to the train line.
There were five of them, too many to fit into one car, and so with the two of us, we
could split the price of two taxis seven ways and save money all round. This soun-
ded fair enough, but we were dismayed later that evening when we found a loaded
hay truck from the village, the owner of which was willing to give us a ride.
The Russians agreed instantly, but I felt that it was a bit of a shame. We'd been
planning to walk the rest of the way into the village the next day; and both Tim
and I were sad to find the opportunity gone and our trip finished so abruptly. But
like they'd said, it would be cheaper to catch the taxis as a group; and with native
speakers to do the bargaining, it would save us a lot of hassle. We threw our bags
on top of the huge pile of hay and climbed after them.
That was it. Fifteen days of walking over in a flash, with only endless hours of
transportation to take us back to our bikes.
The truck lurched away, and as it started trundling down the road, I looked
at Tim, sitting high up on a pile of hay, smiling sadly. He caught my gaze and
shrugged.
'Ah, well. Looks like that's that. I suppose we'd better go check out Mongolia.'
