Breakfast in the Semey Hotel was quite a surprise - enough of one to leave me in shocked awe and unable to face it.
It was 2 eggs perched on top of 2 slices of gristly spam - not what you want to start your day.
I walked to find an internet cafe - too early, but I got to walk through a rather shabby park which had an eternal flame.
Later, and back to the cafe which was opposite a local hang-out called 'Istanbul Picnic'. At least 5 other rally teams were in town and we had quite a meeting. We decided that we would go to the Russian border with Ed and Ben of team Hyding to Nothing'. We also met Vicky, Pat and (?) in an Austin Allegro. They were waiting for the evening as their visas did not start until the next day.
We passed a lazy afternoon and at about 4pm, Low Beam and Hyding to Nothing headed for Russia.
A short drive later and we got to the Kazak side of the border. There was a queue of cars including 2 Spanish teams.
We went through the Kazak side and were met with quite a sight. The taxi team were in 'no mans land' and had set up their own country 'Taxistan'. There was a desk made from a pile of bricks and a car bonnet. They had their tent set up. The reason being that their visas were still 4 days from starting - they were stuck. What was worse - the older man with them - Jimmy was really sick (Heat exhaustion and deydration). Also, we found the Allegro team had decided to leave Semey and had beaten us to the border!!!!?????
After some humming and Ha-ing, Vicky joined Hyding to nothing (Ed and Ben were 'chuffed to bits') so that her team would take sick Ed to Barnaul in the morning as his visa was valid. The 2 lads would have to sit it out in Taxistan until there visas became valid.
We drove into the night on fairly decent roads stopping for Shashlick and, some free Vodka courtesy of Alex's geniality.
At 4am we camped in the suburbs of Barnaul.
It was 2 eggs perched on top of 2 slices of gristly spam - not what you want to start your day.
I walked to find an internet cafe - too early, but I got to walk through a rather shabby park which had an eternal flame.
Later, and back to the cafe which was opposite a local hang-out called 'Istanbul Picnic'. At least 5 other rally teams were in town and we had quite a meeting. We decided that we would go to the Russian border with Ed and Ben of team Hyding to Nothing'. We also met Vicky, Pat and (?) in an Austin Allegro. They were waiting for the evening as their visas did not start until the next day.
We passed a lazy afternoon and at about 4pm, Low Beam and Hyding to Nothing headed for Russia.
A short drive later and we got to the Kazak side of the border. There was a queue of cars including 2 Spanish teams.
We went through the Kazak side and were met with quite a sight. The taxi team were in 'no mans land' and had set up their own country 'Taxistan'. There was a desk made from a pile of bricks and a car bonnet. They had their tent set up. The reason being that their visas were still 4 days from starting - they were stuck. What was worse - the older man with them - Jimmy was really sick (Heat exhaustion and deydration). Also, we found the Allegro team had decided to leave Semey and had beaten us to the border!!!!?????
After some humming and Ha-ing, Vicky joined Hyding to nothing (Ed and Ben were 'chuffed to bits') so that her team would take sick Ed to Barnaul in the morning as his visa was valid. The 2 lads would have to sit it out in Taxistan until there visas became valid.
We drove into the night on fairly decent roads stopping for Shashlick and, some free Vodka courtesy of Alex's geniality.
At 4am we camped in the suburbs of Barnaul.
No comments:
Post a Comment