Led by Anthony and Mike, this is the last event of the season and yes, this is the big number. We plan for 17 days. Now, everyone who rides a bike knows the Red Devil Izh Planetta from "The Long Way Round" with Ewen McGregor and Charlie Boreman. Well, the Red Devil is alive and well and living with us; and seeking its redemption: the realisation of its dream to make it all the way from Ulaan Baatar to London and a reunion with its long lost friends, Ewen and Charlie. The dream of a 350cc Soviet era, 15 HP, Russian 2-stroke, not a 1200cc BMW, to take on the world and to win. So yes, we will be riding the Red Devil on this route, and if you want to you can share that ride with us. We are going to make this as big a group as we can, because we think that this is a big dream and an important one; which means that we will be running our 7 ADVs, 5 Classic Dual Sports, 5 Voge Ralleys, and the Red Devil itself + a friend, which makes for 19 bikes - with a bit of luck. Now to recall, this is only part one and not the end of the journey. So we will leave the bikes in Hovd in the far west, and take the plane back to UB, where we will celebrate with a mamouth closing party on the day of the autumn equinnox; and everyone who is there will discuss how, in this day and age, we are going to get from Hovd to London by road: how to put a way to our will.
We leave Nisekh and take the road to Zunmod on the other side of the Bogd Khan Mountain. Then cross the high Mongolian plateau for 300km to Mandalgobi, visiting the attractions of Ikh Gazarin Chuluu rock formations and ancient fortress along the way, because we are going to enjoy this trek - every mile of it. Continue south all the way to Dalantzadgad - the Queen of the Gobi.
Turn right and follow the Gobi Altai range due west until we reach Bulgan at the bottom of the Altai Range proper. This is real deep desert zen. As remote as it is possible to get on Earth.
Pick up the sweep of the Altai proper and follow the mountains through the central Altai passes north-west to Friendship Peak - the highest mountain in Mongolia and the peak that marks the end of Country. We will take our time. This is remote, dangerous and beautiful; and we are going to enjoy every minute of it.
The last part of the journey. It is very remote and we are ambassadors for our countries out here. It is rude to pass too quickly and we will not. THM is known out here too, from times and visits past. We will spend a day and the last night in Hovd. Leave the bikes here. We wait for the plane. No body goes to the airport early. We wait until we hear the plane arrive, and then we go. It is now late September. The weather is mild, but the winter is coming. There will be no chance to ride out of here until the spring - the 1st of April next year. The bikes remain - garaged and warm. Batteries disconnected. Fuel drained. Waiting for us to return.
We are back in THM HQ Nisekh. We celebrate. We discuss. We plan for Part 2 of ths journey. No body dissents. Everyone will be back next year. Everyone dreams with the spirit of this bike, the namesake of our adventure: the IZh Planetta - the Red Devil from "The Long Way Round."