Phil: I will leave July 1, but if you make it to UB in June, I'd be happy to meet for a beer to talk over routes and Mongolia in general.

If you want to do it the fun (aka difficult) way, you should enter Mongolia through the far western border point and drive from there to UB. It is 99% offroad driving from western Mongolia to UB. If you're pushing hard you can make it in three days. A week would make it more leisurely and fun.

The easy way is to stay on the paved roads in in Russia and then come down to UB from Ulan Ude. That way is all paved and you can make it from the Russian border to UB in under six hours.

Let me know if you have any specific questions about overland in Mongolia.

-Scott

Baron, my wife and I are leaving Beijing for UB on or about 24 July. I am disregarding the very good advice from Scott about not riding our BMW powered Chang Jiang west through Mongolia to the western border point. While I know its good advice, I just can't pass up riding in what may be the last pristine part of the northern hemisphere. From there to Barnal and on to Moscow!

It is very likely that we will pass enroute and we will not be too hard to spot because there is another bike, a mirror image of mine - sidecar rigs - that will travel with me.

Flag us down, let me know where you are and we can certainly let you know where we are.

Look forward to hooking up with you. You may want to go to www.draginrun.com.

Scott, may I take you up on the offer for the map? I will certainly be happy to reimburse all costs.

Regards,

Jack

Hi Sverrirt & Baron

I'm on a similar route from Ireland-Baltics-St Petersburg-Moscow-Siberia-Mongolia-Vladivostok and the U.S. leaving June 1.

Can we talk ? You can reach me at : kevin at ireland dot com

Kevin

Hi Phil

I am getting in touch with as many travellers as I can on a similar route and timing as myself (Dublin to Mongolia/ Vladivostok - leaving June 1) as I'm travelling solo. Can you get in touch so we can swap details if you're interested ?

I'm at kevin@ ireland dot com

Kevin