Day 3 & 4 Datong (China) / Undurshil (Mongolia) / Ulaan Bastar

Yesterday it took us 4 hours to clear the Chinese / Mongolian border, picture below. After two hours of driving into the Gobi desert the rally really started as we drove the first two test sections and arrived in the evening at the first bivouac. Mongolia, the largest landlocked country has only 3,7 million inhabitants and one could fit 27 times the Netherlands into Mongolia.

Today more test sections in the desert on gravel which reminded us of the southern Marocco. The Karmann is going well and we are driving without taking maximum risk. Several cars have serious mechanical problems and are in need of repair.

This evening, arriving in Ulaan Bataar, one can sense the impact the commodity boom has had on this country. Large modern office buildings line the streets and busy office people are rushing around.

Tomorrow is rest day which means that we will be attending our cars to get them ready for five more Mongolian days with test sections and bivouac.