I am sure you will all be aware by now that the long march was cut short for the racers, as such no need for me to go into the full details. It was the right decision, the course ascended to 9000ft mountain pass and the weather deteiorated raplidly...far too dangerous to carry on. I had made it to 56km ish by that stage , and so only another 20km to go , but that was over another mountain pass. Kinda bitter sweet , but i was relieved to be able to get into the warm. We hunkered down for a while in a local hut/shop...much entertained by the US competitor being rammed by a goat. The shop sold pepsi, chocolate, shoes,  phones and goats so an eclectic mix. As for the race itself i was feeling ok- no real impact from the altitude and climb, and of couse spectacular mountain scenary...one of my abiding memories of this race will be how friendly and hospitable the locals have been -exemplfied by the yurt living old lady 7000 ft up the mountain who dashed inside to find some bread for the racers as they passed, or indeed the young girl on the same climb who shouted her support non stop , you could hear her minutes later , voice still echoing off the mountain pass. Once off the couse we were transported to a yurt village where we have stayed overnight , far more cosy than for the tents. On awaking this morning, you could see snow dusting the hills only 1000ft above camp, and were told that it had snowed at what would have been the later checkpoints ..so right decision indeed. Some desert! As i was on the main climb i remembered that in gobi 2011 on the same day it had been over 45 degs c..in the turpan depression , and this time it was going to get closer to zero. So today is a rest day in camp befor the final short stage tomorrow to the finish , and i kinda figure that 230km through this land is pretty much the same as 250km! Looking forward to that cold beer and seeing you all. Thanks Dr jim for the encouragement from Cambodia..and i hope the morning meetings have been enlivened, makes it all worthwhile. Thanks for all comments and thoughts from all. shazz , i reckon a bacon butty for tuesday breakfast? William , you can inform 5ren that i will be done by saturday am. Love and regs. Dg. 

I will try and blog out final comments once we are complete.