(Pardon the book report format but it was a really FULL day.  With jet lag and all just wanting to get all the details in, for now!)

Knowing that the first day after long travel and a significant time change can make one just want to sleep when you shouldn’t,  I jumped at the opportunity to book a suggested tour by Racing the Planet – National Park, Monastery, Mongolian lunch and so on.  A full day event that would keep me moving, keep the sun on my face and make SURE that I would not crawl in to bed in the middle of the day.  It was a few days prior that I realized I was the only one booked for a tour that could take a minivan – so after a quick shout out on the Whatsapp group of runners each slot pinged full quickly guaranteeing a day of new friends and conversations revolving around race tips, etc.  So “wild jet lag” addressed, and now with participants from Singapore (Chris, Winston, Gary and Vera), the US (Jody), and Spain (Irina and Fabio) joining, my hope for some “Wild Company” also on its way to fulfillment!  2 volunteers and 5 newbies, although well versed, new to the RTP adventure! Racing the Planet ALWAYS brings together the most interesting of people – with the crazy benefit of clicking right away.  But, little did I know how wild it would become….

We all met early for our departure to the national park and enjoyed quite a hike and rock scramble to the very top of the rock with a picture posted below – the vistas unbelievable, including the view of the meditation center and monastery and the next highest hill to be climbed after getting down this one!  That however was serene and peaceful…..a long walk up, including 108 steps to the active meditation center complete with prayer wheels.  I hope that pictures can convey the many words I am not able to quite convey here….it was truly a beautiful setting, a magic in the air.  And as our get-to-know-ya conversations got deeper and deeper we made our way to a traditional Mongolian lunch…..mongolian milk tea (like I have never tasted before), meat pastries and dumplings.  Hearty food and very tasty.  Good fuel for our impending time with Wild Horses!  Mongolian horses are shorter and more stout and strong.  I won’t go in to all of the history here (google does it better than I), but they are truly spectacular creatures, and in some listings referred to as Asian Wild Ass (that is true fact, I am NOT making a joke – but that fact well fueled our jokes and humor for much of the day).  We were told very clearly that these horses are part wild – so that means DON’T approach them from behind (well, we all know that about a horse, right?) AND DON’T approach them from their front (oh, ok?), and ONLY APPROACH them from their left.  Ok!  I guess there’s some respect for the beast here?  So that we did, put helmets on, and gathered in groups tethered together (not quite the free cantering I love that some far flung beaches without US liabilities will allow their visitors).  As I chatted with the guide about what could be done to let me loose with my horse for a moment a flurry of sound, hooves, and high adrenalin hit the group.  And then a THUD.  As I turned I saw my new friend Winston from Singapore hanging on for dear life as his horse took off and before I knew it he was on the ground.  As I turned back another, Fabio was off his horse…… it looks that the WILD of these horses won that day as a horse was spooked by something in the grass that set the others off.  Everyone was ok – but there was some decisive decision making done as some opted to walk back and some continued the ride (my family knows what I did – hard to get me off of a horse – and hey my garmin watch dinged at the end of the ride letting me know I had accomplished 10,000 steps so far – horse steps count, don’t they?).  Let’s just say that nicknames are to be had (or rather EARNED) in these Racing the Planet adventures and I’m nominating Winston for something related to the name of these horses because he got back up on the horse and beasted it through the day……. #admiration to you Winston, and glad you are ok. 

In order to quell everyone’s pulsing adrenalin we were treated to a yurt visit, with history and traditional snacks.  Did you know:  all doors to yurts in Mongolia face south as that is where their enemies have always come from.  And the door is always open and the yurt available for whatever you might need.  And with their horses as their most prized possessions and never to be sold, often their saddles are kept inside for good luck.  AND, always always enter the yurt with your RIGHT foot – that goes for all abodes, otherwise bad luck may come your way.  You can be sure that we will all be entering our tents throughout the week with our RIGHT foot first!

At this point the heavens opened up as we made our way to the largest statue in the world, the Genghis Khan statue (and museum) in the middle of nowhere.  Again – please see the photo!  It is HUGE – and truly in the middle of nowhere.  As we made our way up to it the size was awesome – the storm rolling in with ominous thunder and huge raindrops was perfectly timed to set the scene of this mighty warrior.  Our RTP crew, of course, perfectly prepared with race gear and paid no mind to the weather!  (I like this crew!  Lifeboat material!). 

I feel like I’ve written so much here and am desperate to go to bed…..the days long, and still not quite knowing the day or time – but I will wrap it up with our drive home.  All of us quite knackered (tired for those not familiar with brit slang!) and as our driver pulled in to a road supermarket our guide looked very excited announcing that we could stop for snacks and beer for the ride home!  Silence……most of us already eating our ready to go snacks (again, think RTP and ready for anything) and definitely not wanting beer as we were all trying to stay up and awake.  Made me laugh…… With a kind “decline” we hit the road back to the hotel.  The traffic in Ulaanbaatar is truly astonishing — what should have been 1 hour was 3 with a mish mash of cars everywhere.  I’ve never seen anything quite like it – especially being told that this is how it is all the time.  A very long day but I crashed hard…..wild day accomplished and I managed to stay awake.  On to more gear prep…..carving away and will soon make the first pack and weight check here in Mongolia.  Hoping that I nail it sooner this time.  I hope that with experience and this being my 4th time at this kind of rodeo, it will keep getting easier.