We awoke on day eight, the day we would finish the
race, to a driving rain pitter-pattering on the roof of
the ger. For the last time, we popped out of our sleep-
ing bags, rolled them up, and stuffed them into our
saddle bags.
The rain and low-hanging clouds made navigation
more challenging, but after a bit of zigzagging we
rolled into station 27. Here, I selected a grulla-colored
horse that turned out to be the riding horse of the
children of the family at the station. As I held him and
waited to go, a little boy and girl walked up and started
petting and hugging him. I asked the translator to tell
the kids I'd look after their horse and they'd get him
back soon. The memory of their big smiles still makes
my heart grow a size each time I think about it.
COMING TO MONGOLIA,
THIS WAS ALL I HAD WANTED:
TO RACE UNINHIBITED
ACROSS THE HEARTBREAKINGLY
BEAUTIFUL STEPPE.
