Steve's Cycling Blog

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Today was scheduled to be the longest ride of the trip (baring any issues later on) and unfortunately there’s more uphill than down, and it’s across what is likely to be a pretty boring bit of countryside (based on the rider from the border). Because I’d got so bored on the last ride I’d talked to Michael, Will and Charlie over the weekend about riding with them today to try and keep the boredom at bay.

Bags at 0450, breakfast at 0500, and on the road at 0515. The first few km through the town were fine, but once we got out into the countryside the wind was really in our faces.

Through to lunch we just kept rolling through who was in front each time the person currently at the front had had enough which worked out pretty well. We stopped at 40km and then about every 20km for a quick break, a pee, and something to eat. Joan was also with us from time-to-time as we made our way through the morning.

Lunch was at a pretty good spot on the crest of a hill with a view back the way we’d come. Definitely a two sandwich day, with two packed for later as well.

Not long after we’d set off the sun came through and it began to get hot – at times really hot. Thankfully the wind also dropped away which kind of balanced out the discomfort factors. We stopped 25km after lunch and Charlie commented that maybe he should have filled three water bottles as he only had half a bottle of water left – not good news given how far we had to go.

Fortunately a surprise ‘coke stop’ appeared at 128km where we met up with the other group of riders who were in front of us, and Bernice who was doing her own thing. A Sprite and a couple of bottles of water later and we were back on the road.

We met Andreas in the van at 147km on his way back along the route to pick up struggling riders and to provide apples and water to those of us still riding. The good news was that we’d soon be able to see camp.

We stopped at the 160km mark for the sake of 100 miles

As promised once we got to the top of the climb (some 10km later!) we could indeed see the town and the trees we’re headed for – you probably can’t see it in the photo as it was still 35km away, but none-the-less visible with the naked eye.

That last 35km took a while – we were starting to run out of steam and the wind was back so there were several stops along the way for photos and food – at last there’s a little more to see in this part of the ride than there was earlier in the day:

With a few km to go a truck load of hay passed us and Will spotted the opportunity for some slip-streaming, however this late in the day we couldn’t get the speed up to slip in behind so the opportunity went by.

Shortly thereafter we passed under the town gate, turned left at the town sign, and found the campsite under some (very welcome) trees almost exactly 11 hours after we’d left the hotel in Semey.

In all only 11 (of the now 22) riders made the whole distance today – some rode only to lunch, others only from lunch, and still others got picked up part way through the afternoon. Even those of us who were well prepared in terms of fluids are bordering on dehydrated, and Charlie’s not looking too flash right now!

Dinner tonight was fish, so I ‘swapped’ with Erwin who’s a fish-eating vegetarian and he had the ‘meat’ dinner while I had the vege option instead – everyone was happy with that outcome.

Tomorrow’s ‘only’ 145km, however after today, and with the wind forecast to be even stronger I think it’s going to be another super tough day. Breakfast’s scheduled for 0500, so fingers crossed we can get a decent way into the ride before the wind gets too bad.

Right – best I post this (yay for 3G at camp :-)), get my clothing off the line I put up, my solar panel out of the tree where it’s charging my Garmin, and go to bed (at 1930) ready for the adventures of tomorrow.

Just as I was about to do that I got some small visitors (I’m leaning up against the fence which goes round the ‘park’ we’re camped in) who were interested in all the people camped here.

The boy in the yellow top spoke some English, so we did the usual ‘where are you from’ and ‘where are you going’ questions – this time with my laptop in front of me I was able to show them on a map the answers to these questions!

The boy in the yellow top then proceeded to tip this small creature from the front pocket of his backpack – I’m not entirely sure how he came to have it, but he didn’t seem too concerned when it ran off!

When I asked if I could take a photo he suggested a ‘selfie’ so this is what we ended up with:

My visitor in the yellow shirt had vanished while I was finishing up this post and I was in my tent about 15 min later when I heard a very polite ‘Excuse me’ from behind the fence. I stuck my head out to discover that he’d returned with a phone (so he could take a selfie with me) and a gift which he said was “traditional Kazakh food”

Apparently it’s called kurut. A thick salty yoghurt is made, it’s then hung in a cloth bag until all the liquid drains out, before being shaped into pellets and left in the sun to dry. I tried a piece of it and it sure is salty!

Riding data

View from my tent

Tonight you get a view of my tent instead because (to be completely honest) I can’t be arsed moving from where I’m sitting, going into my tent and taking a photo!