Day 126 Aug 13 Mon - Wild camp - Elista

Hotel Elista 1000RR
Street outside hotel , noticed that chinese style of lampost and roof of the shop

Don't be mistaken, we are not in Tibet ,China

ant chess at the square

From Astrakhan to Elista , a distance of 330km of semi desert land
Russian camel , but I haven't seen a real one yet I presume he must be Buddha Shakyamuni?

Today's Distance: 45km
Today's Temp: 24 - 34 c
Average Speed: 18.8 max : 48.5
Time on Bike: 2 hr 20 min
Average climb: 1% max: 12%
Trip Altitude: 258m max: 335m
Today's spending: 734RR
Total Distance to date: 8230 km
Total spending to date: 2656 RR

Elista - What a lovely town with a beautiful name!!!! The English teacher whom I met on the way was right. Elista is indeed beautiful and clean. She reminded me that you must visit "The Golden Temple Of Buddha Shakyamuni" The Temple was built on a strategic location on top of a hill slope surrounded by trees and houses.There are 4 main gates outside its compound and similarly 4 main doors to the building. No camera allowed inside and we took photos at the compound. As we rode further to the town centre, the feeling like we were back into China once again! Many buildings ,lamp posts and streets with Chinese architectures . The locals look like Chinese but they are not! They are actually the generations from the ancient Mongolians who were once nearly conquared the whole Europe. Their great leader Genghis Khan picture frame can be seen around town. We put up at Hotel Elista for 1000RR a day.

Day 125 Aug 12 Sun - Wild Camp to Another Wild camp 50km to Elista

We had free due melon , bread,cucumber and sausages in this shop
Open burning first we had seen in Russia
Road to our campsite
Lumpy campsite with inaccessible water from the lake

Today's Distance: 179km
Today's Temp: 25 - 34 c
Average Speed: 24.7 max: 46
Time on Bike: 7 hr 14 min
Average climb: 2% max: 10%
Trip Altitude: 115m max: 183 m
Today's spending: 174 RR
Total Distance to date: 8185 km
Total spending to date: 1922 RR

In this part of southern Russia is mostly flat semi desert land with nothing growing on both sides of the road A-154 , peoples are mainly living in small towns and villages located far apart. Thay are very friendly and like to ask a lots of questions , whenever we stops at the cafe for foods or drinks. The rides was so enjoyable on such smoooth road , on several occasions ,I had to pull aside to refresh myself from falling asleep. We did a distance of 179km today cos' Heather was in her element and top form.At 155km mark,I was about to look for camp spot with a small river around,but she wanted more as the tailwind is too hard to pull a handbrake on her. I am happy to stay at the back until she finally had enough , we camp at a small lake but couldn't have excess to the water cos' the edges was muddy . Another day of wipe & clean .The camp ground was a bit lumpy but still we slept soundly.

Day 124 Aug 11 Sat - Astrakhan - Wild camp 230km to Elista

We are heading west, this picture taken from the back with my shadow Our campsite with no water

Many of these soviet cars still running on the fast lanes
Beautiful road
The bike deserves a rest too!!!
A cafe inside a train wagon ,not for long anymore
A new one is under contruction

Passing a railway gate
A welcome sign indeed
How I wish I had the time to join them
Their catch in a plastic container

Today's Distance: 103km
Today's Temp: 26 - 36C
Average Speed: 20 max: 40
Time on Bike: 5 hr 10 min
Average climb: 1% max: 6%
Trip Altitude: 70 m max: 79 m
Today's spending: 68 RR
Total Distance to date: 8006 km
Total spending to date: 1748 RR

Yesterday we decided not to stay any longer in hotel Azimut.With 100 usd per nite,the service & facilities provided were not value for money . The room is small , no aircond, faulty stand fan ,inconsistent wireless internet . And the last is the power went blackout , we had to carry our

panniers down to the lobby from 4th floor. After having breakfast at the hotel, Heather need s to buy a memory card for the GPS,back on the road arms with a city map of Astrakhan , We heard so much abt the difficulties in getting out of town , but surprisingly we did it quite easily without making a single navigation mistake. The new crank bracket looks good but the gears setting and alignment were out. I am no good in adjusting either , I will do away with the big ring and only use my 2nd chainring and the granny. Hope can get a good mechanic for fine adjustment. Once out of town , the road signs are clear , road surface is so smooooth , and the best is " TAILWIND ,TAILWIND" Peoples we met here are much much more friendly than in the city. We had free drinks,tomatos . The campsite for tonite ,sorry no water , we always carried enough water in situation like this. A cup full of water ,I can wipe my body "clean" with a handkerchief.

Day 123 Aug 10 Fri - Astrakhan replaced A new crank bracket

Hotel room in Azimut , not to our satisfaction , no aircon and a faulty stand fan
Front gate of Azimut hotel under refurbishment
These 4x4 from Poland but no chance to meet them

A bike spare parts stall at the bazaar
Fishing equipments stall
A Russian married couples at the Lenin square
Another photo of beautiful girl from Rusia for my Malaysian frens
Lenin statue

Russian mechanic make sure the size is correct with a caliper
Bike shop very well equiped


Bazaar near the bike shop

Today's Distance: 12 km
Today's spending: 1280 RR
Total Distance to date: 7903 km
Total spending to date: 1680RR

My recumbent crank bracket started to wear out when I first discovered it abt 2 weeks ago while still in Kazakhstan.Since then I had been very careful not to apply too much force on it especially during take off and uphills. I can sense thru my feet that the "play" is getting more & more serious with each day of continue pedalling. This will not last me to Paris , so decision made to have it change in Astrakhan. Astrakhan is a big busy city with Volga river flowing down the middle and out into the Caspian Sea.There are many small rivers,bridges,traffic lights , tourists often find it difficult to move around and getting out of town. we experienced this yesterday. I was rather lucky to meet a boy cyclist who only guide me to his house, but he show me the direction to the Bike shop which is very near the Bazaar. You can almost get everything here. I managed to replace a new crank bracket for 600RR . I don't know the brand but I am sure this is definately better than the original one from Taiwan.