A map of the projected route which starts off headed South to the Gobi where we will visit MBDP host families and finishes in Khustai park, another placement site.
The group included the founder of the MBDP, Bruce Elfstrom as well as the project manager, Douglas Lally, and media specialist Petra Elfstrom. Others included Erik Eisensmith of OEX and Oaklea Elfstrom who has been a part of the project from its start. Everyone remaining who joined us were travelers and adventurers who have a special interest in overlanding or the MBDP.
I was unable to join the group at the start of the trip and arrived a day late to Mongolia. This meant that by the time I had arrived in UB, the group was six hours south driving through Mendelgovi where they would be staying the night. I had to catch transportation from UB to the province capital Dalanzadgad in the South Gobi, passing the group along the way so I could meet them the following day.
Of course things did not go as planned. I had missed the government sanctioned bus with your very own reclining seat and seat belts to match. So after an hour or so of running frantically around the
city, making phone calls, looking for anyone who may be heading south. A friend called me back with news of a microbus headed to DZ. Taking this microbus meant cramming 12 people (plus a baby or two) and luggage into a space designed for 9 people. Eight hours later at 5am, muscles cramped and holding someone else's baby, I arrived in Dalanzadgad.
Luckily I had made friends and was invited for some food, a nap, a hot shower and vodka. Feeling rested, a little drunk and certain I was in Mongolia. I patiently awaited the arrival of the OEX caravan.
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