Atyrau Delay

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Back in UK thought a new rear tyre would be handy halfway to China, do see other bike passing with tyres tied on, hear stories of people stuck wait on tree.

So we filled the new tyre with goodies, brake pads, water sterilise tabs, dried food, and a present for each other.

Tyre sent by Hunters bike shop in good time, but stuck customs in Almaty, should have watched this closer, bit help from Palace Victoria Hotel, pay fee to prove for it's for me not my company, still sit 3 days - luckily do have time.



Caspien sea, simple drive south to coast have swim, well 5km beyond land on sat-nav, still just reeds with a few river channels, interesting -40m altitude. Locals say another 25km to open water. Might drive west (just another 100km) to a place where open water is visible, depending on tyre delay.



Atyrau provincial city, with bit of oil wealth (lot of banks in town), but still lots shopping to be had. Temperature about 36..38C, need stay out sun in afternoons. More traffic police activity, but still no issues so far.

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Photos

atryau_mosk
Beautiful structures, often bit dwafed by banks & hotels.

Astra_Pontoon
Last bridge in Russia, actual pontoon or floating bridge, 50RU toll, big steel plates & pins or bolts, so how make steel float - keep dry one side.
2nd to last bridge was shut! Well barricaded off to cars - had fair pothole in middle of bridge, bike crossing was bit adventure, just had to follow other bikes.

dried fish
Fish is very popular, not hungry enough to try it yet.

drink
Popular item for small supermarket.

pipework
Pipes run throughout cites 10..15km, district heating system.

not_jeepney
Emergence of small transit bus for people transport - lots, think will see colour added as progress east, true jeepne only exist in Philippines.

caspien_orNot
Small river channel, big reed beds, so not open water yet.

at_sea
The OsmAnd sat-nav has been good, but does shows bike in the water, at -38m altitude!
When in use is mounted on dash (obsures speed & some leds) with USB PSU if needed, once there - just can't get lost, works offline with 8GB of map files in memory.