After an almost wholly unsuccessful yet surprisingly enjoyable 4-day camping excursion, it's nearly time to leave Irkutsk. (Our progress was hampered by 100km of dirt track, one high mountain pass, 36 hours of rain, 5 degree nights, one thunderstorm, one lost camp stove part, one broken chain and one giant stray dog.) Tomorrow Nathan, Sally and I begin our ride towards the Mongolian border! We have 9 days to cross 700km, skirting the world's deepest lake and climbing up on to the Mongolian plateau where it apparently drops down to -10 degrees at night. Fun stuff.