“Brr, what a trip! And then the long, mannered day’s marches! We got up early, around 7 am, the mongols released their camels to seek for food on the snow-covered, dead grass, while we had a little to eat. We cooked a severe meat stew and had a real camel meal just before starting out, around 10, and as soon as we were done eating, the caravan started moving. It was non stop without any breaks until 12 or 1 at night, sometimes until 2 am. That was a long stretch without any food, so we hid some food under our furs, so that our body heat prevented the food from freezing.

All was fine until three parts of the journey were covered, when we approched bandits, with seriousness. Quite a bit of shooting took place, most came from the bandits, we escaped the shooting somewhat safe and sound, though we had to keep it going three days and nights without stopping. Both me and the horse I was riding doze off from time to time. I am able to, and have many times, slept at much more unpleasant places than a saddle, so I was not bothered, I did not want a bullet through my body for a christmas present, so I stayed awake most of the time. I have never been more happy and thankful to reach a house, a home and peace any christmas than I was when I approched Kalgan the 22nd of December.

Next year, in 1915, he had found love and married Karen from Norway: