Blogs from Siberia, Russia, Europe - page 58

Day 97, 5th September Jurga - Kemerovo It was a good start to the day as we set out, sunny with a few clouds. The going was good on the way to Kemerovo, the first city we would have to actually negotiate as the M53 road passes right through it. As we entered the suburbs the heavens opened giving me the chance to see how my new so-called waterproof Russian gear stood up to the rain. The boots were great, the jacket stood up pretty well, and the trousers got soaked. But, only on the areas where sweat had previously come through and left salty patches. It was a nightmare negotiating this huge industrial city, then all of a sudden disaster struck - “ping”! another spoke broke on the back wheel making my bike virtually un-rideable. ... read more

NEW PHOTOS: Just to let you know that today I managed to add loads of new pics to previous blog entries going all the way back to France in July... Enjoy! Day 92, 31st August Barabinsk - Ubinskoe - Kargat Woke up a bit spaced! It had been another rainy night with a little storm. We were late on the road, about eleven, it was very cloudy, but with no rain today. The first café we stopped at for coffee and gretchka was strange. It was like a hillbilly place with three weird girls lazing about. I wondered about the long winters in places like this and what people do to amuse themselves? Like yesterday, the roadsides and fields were brimming with marijuana plants, it felt like a crime not to stop and pick off the ... read more

Day 86, 25th August Isil’kul’ - Moskalenki - Mar’janovka A nine o’clock start and rain immediately. The wind had made a 180 turn too and was blowing directly into our faces. It was utterly miserable. After 25 miles there was the first very welcome café, then after another 30 miles, the next - we were totally soaked through. Our goal was Omsk to meet Rory who was waiting for us. There were no phones to establish contact, so we decided after 60 miles to leave the next 20 or so to Omsk for the morning. I was glad to get into my tent and into some dry clothes. It was 6pm. The prospect of another month or so of this across Siberia and then Mongolia didn’t relly appeal to me. I got into my warm sleeping ... read more

Up early and went to the Bus Station to catch a bus to Listvyanka (a village on the edge of Lake Baikal). The Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, 400 miles long, 40 miles wide, 1.6km deep and containing 20% of the worlds total freshwater supply. It is kept clear and clean by sponges living in it and is entirely safe to drink for the main part. Getting a bus was a real challenge - we couldn’t read the signs and no-one seemed to be able to help us! After wandering around with some equally lost Spanish backpackers we managed to find someone who directed us to a minibus. Apparently minibuses are part of the public transport system here and people use them like normal buses. We squashed on to the ... read more

We left Ekaterinburg with heavy hearts. No, wait, heavy bags. To say we weren't sad to leave would be an understatement. To say we were looking forward to sixty hours on a train would be a lie. However, as it turns out, the carriage was full of friendlier faces, and vitally, windows that opened. We shared our cabin with a young Russian called Sasha who took great delight in spraying his new waterpistol at everything and anything the train trundled past. An older Sasha who spoke English acted as tour guide as we clocked up the miles through the improving scenery of the Russian taiga. Something that definitely wasn't improving was the mood of the provodnitsas, who were thoroughly unimpressed with our explanation of carolyn's missing ticket stub. One of the equally enthusiastic railway staff had ... read more