Sometimes we just can’t waste water washing cooking utensils.
A lot of our cleaning is done by baking soda and a little, flexible rubber spatula. We sprinkle a small amount on our pots and pans and it generally does a great job absorbing food grease and dirt and then use the rubber spatula to scoop it out. We also use baking soda for cleaning our clothes and if we are really stuck, ourselves!
In Summer 2015, Ciarán and I spent 40 days cycling across Mongolia. Along the way we encountered lunar landscapes, lazy camels, curious locals, sandy tracks, rolling hills, incredible hosts, idyllic campsites and stunning skies!
*Warning: there is one graphic scene of a goat being turned inside out. We were invited to camp next to some herders who were bringing their goats to the capital. They treated us to khorkhog, a traditional Mongolian dish which involves cooking the goat with hot rocks in the stomach of the animal. It tasted better than it sounds.
Music:
The first track is a snippet from the title track of Melting Cavalry by the Irish band Seti The First. The second track is Excessive Moonlight by Indian Jewelery and the third track is Seagreen Serenade by Silver Apples.
After chilling out in Amsterdam for a long weekend we cycled to the coast and got the ferry to Newcastle. A rocky, choppy crossing that severely tested our stomachs and sense of balance!
From the moment we set off on our journey we have been looking forward to meeting two of the most charming people we know, the lovely John and Linda. Thanks for been amazing hosts and spoiling us in Newcastle!Northumberland sausages are yum!
Apps to help while cycle touring. Links to make life easier if you’re planning a cycle trip in Japan and some cycling related blogs we like to follow.
(We lived in Japan for a few years, the links below should help if you’re touring this beautiful country.)
Outdoor gear can be expensive in Japan. Here’s a list of useful resources:
Crossing the Czech, Polish border.
We experienced cold nights in Mongolia and Russia, but the recent freezing fog in Poland has probably been the coldest we’ve experienced so far. Our slow long breakfasts have become slower and longer as our frozen, numb fingers struggle to do what our brains tell them to do!
We were pretty unlucky for the 5 days we spent cycling through Slovakia. It rained non-stop every day so it’s all just a damp blur. To make matters worse we made a bad route decision and ended up on a really busy road with lots of trucks. Scary cycling. Between the two of us we only took 5 photos in Slovakia, so here they are:
We often camped next to these hunting lookout towers. They are like big tree houses and provided shelter for cooking our dinner!
*pronounced brrrr-no
Reaching Brno in the Czech Republic was a big milestone for us. We met up with an old friend from college, Sam and his girlfriend Pavla who put us up for a few nights and gave us an alternative bike tour of the city. On our first night we were welcomed with a steaming glass of mulled wine and a tasty pot of vegan pasta. After a few shots of home brewed plum brandy we were whisked away on a pub crawl to try the local beer. The next day Sam took us for a walk to see the 30’s architecture of Brno. We climbed a small hill through some wasteland to get a panoramic view of the city then checked out a crumbling concrete stadium left behind from the communist era. To explore further afield we hopped on our unloaded bikes and followed Sam and Pavla to an Asian wholesale hanger out of town where we were treated to a big bowl of wonton soup! After a hip coffee in a warehouse turned art gallery we headed back to their apartment to chill in front of their home cinema set up for the night!
We ended up taking no photos in Brno but luckily Sam documented our stay. See his photos below:
Ciarán sporting the lasted lumbersexual trend!
Represent.
When we reached the Hungarian border the weather began to change for the worse. Up to this point we only had a brief sun shower back in Mongolia, so the ominous grey clouds that were gathering overhead were reminders that we’re getting closer to home… and that winter was on its way!
We left the open farmlands of north western Romania for the forests and woods of eastern Hungary. The hills disappeared and the land began to flatten out. Wild camping became easy again, allowing us to hide in the woods along with the herds of deer that roamed freely and occasionally scared the crap out of us with their terrifying screeches!
Crank and Cog 