Day 32, to Chibit  94km , 2471km to date,  509m up, 1157m end

Today was an easy ride, mostly downhill, but in heavy rain, for the first 10km it was into strong headwind, and for the first time in a long time, pavement! nice smooth pavement!  I’d almost forgotten what pavement was like.  One of the riders said that the area we are in, is the driest area of Russia, that would explain why the “stream” near the camp is almost overflowing its banks. 

It was great to have time during the day to enjoy ourselves, so we did, bought the best two bottles of Vodka in the town ($6 ea.), along with several units of Russian Sturgeon Caviar (at $0.50 ea.).  It was a celebration both of succeeding in cycling across Mongolia and of now being in Russia.

We are in a sort of campground, complete with small cabins, so tonight rather than being out in my tent in the pouring rain, I am in a small cabin.

The countryside here is very much like BC, could be the Fraser Canyon.

Some pics:

the town of Aktash:

Liz was wearing blue leather gloves, now her hands are blue:

The vodka and Caviar remains: