Day 40, to Rubtsovsk 156km , 3315km to date,  1024m up, 397m end

A long day with headwinds in the morning, but an easy afternoon.  Interesting how I now consider 156km a harder but reasonable day.

Country side is flat prairie.  Talking to one of the riders who is a geography prof at the U. of Washington, the country side is considered steppe (grassland) as apposed to tiaga which is northern boreal forest.

Today is our last full day in Russia.  Russia has been wonderful, as is the norm everywhere, the people have been very friendly and welcoming, proud of their country, there have been recreation areas in the mountain varying to very flat prairie.  I’m not sure what I was expecting, but this is not the Siberia I had envisioned.

One of the more interesting stops today was the village of Ku’ria, this is the home of Kalashnikov the famous Russian rifle.  Unfortunately the museum was not open when we were there. 

Some Pics: