Russian efficiency

Another early start - leaving camp at 6:30 meant we were at the border around 7am, a very efficient, and modern Kazak border and we were through within the hour - looking good !

Then we headed for the rough barrier marking the Russian side of no mans land. And we queued, and we waited. And we waited, and we waited. Lovely place (ahem) no shade,infact no nothing! A few bikes went through to the Russian passport control, but we remained queued up. At about 1pm we got let into the Russian passport control, where we were stamped into the country, then we entered the long process to get the bikes temporarily imported. By 3pm we were out of the border and into the insurance shop to purchase bike insurance - £16 for 12 months road insurance.

So, finally into the Russian Altai - woohoo.

The first town we entered - Rubtsovsk, was really pretty grim, and rough town full of dilapitdatd apartment blocks, knackered roads, and even more knackered cars. The clouds were black, and we experienced only the 2nd downfall of the trip - and boy did it rain. The knackered roads filled with muddy water, but we ploughed on. Almost on the outskirts of town the rain stopped, and we were onto perfect tarmac roads across wheat fields. In fact, for the next 200 miles we kept on the same road, travelling through the same enormous wheat fields, until we closed in on Barnaul.

On the outskirts of Barnaul, we came up behind an estate car containing 5 skin head blokes, the front passenger was waving around a revolver, pointing it out of the window into the fields, the car weaved behind a truck, until it undertook on the gravel verge. Needless to say we hung back, and let him go his own way.

Finally in Barnaul, we quickly located 'Hotel Barnaul' and grim loooking, huge communist hotel. Lucklily it was far more pleasant on the inside. Again with hotel receptionists on each of the 12 floors - another kick back from communist times.

So, rest day, to check the bikes over before the long haul across Mongolia, and a restock for food, and general supplies.

No more updates unil Ulaan-Baatar....