Day 51, to Sunrise beach resort (Kapchagay), Kazakhstan 95km , 4488km to date,  311m up, 546m end

An easy days ride, new pavement, flat, more downhill than up and a bit of wind behind - finished riding by 9:30.  Started at 05:15.

We are camped at a beach resort on the Kapchagay Lake Reservoir.  Heavy rain but warm when we arrived, but it has cleared off now.  When I arrived, I desperately needed a wash - so even though it was raining, bare ass into the lake - it was wonderful to wash my hair after four days.  Using baby wipes to clean yourself is not bad, but a washing in a lake is way better!

Although a resort, the owners clearly like raising their own food, vegetable gardens, chickens, ducks etc.,  During the night I was hearing all sorts of wildlife - crickets, frogs, chickens, dogs (always dogs) and even a peacock!

I’m repeating myself, but everyone here is very friendly.  We have been riding through road construction for the last two days - everyone gives a big wave, the construction workers have offered me water, one guy with a hose gave us a shower whilst passing.

Into Almaty tomorrow, a very large international city of xxx million people.  We will be riding in a convoy for the last 15km as the roads are a bit of a zoo.  Really looking forward to the 2 rest days and to seeing the city.

A couple pics:

Charlie having his 8th ice cream of the evening, yes I said 8 Ice Creams!  He’s young, most of us restrict ourselves to 2 maybe 3 at a sitting.

The breakfast scene from our camp last night, it was at the side of a hotel under renovations (very slow renovations):