We had a late start from Bolshoi Calais, saying farewells and crowds of photo opportunities, we felt like celebrities! Back in Irkutsk I couldn't get money from an ATM. Rick managed to but after another go I realised it was out of cash and found another one in a pharmacy which paid out. Good job I'm not the worrying type.....
The evening mist from the lake was making me cold for the first time in Russia, after expecting to be frozen at night time crossing Siberia, the weather has been excellent, too hot in fact during the afternoons. Two kids on a scooter stopped us. We gave them fuel, water and Geoff even gave them a cigarette, then off they went carrying a guitar with them.
Rick found a good spot to camp on the edge of Lake Baikal near to the railway. A few big puddles but I was ok following their lead until a railway sleeper hiding in a huge puddle didn't move out of the way of my front wheel! My third crash so far. Luckily I rolled across the pile of sleepers so only half of me got wet! A few scratches to the bike and an indicator retrieved by Geoff from the water while I squelched up and down with a boot full of cold water! Luckily Geoff remembered to take a picture before we dragged the bike up, and my bag proved to be waterproof but apparently I didn't look too jovial in the photo....
I sat by the fire on the beach with Rick late that night and he sensed I was fed up. I was annoyed with myself for crashing for the third time.
"Why don't you just let Russia into your heart?" he asked. I knew Russia wasn't the problem, it was me. The only thing keeping me going was Geoff and Rick, if they could do it, so can I! The ever helpful Russians were also a big help. Everyday they put a smile on my face, they are so full of life, nothings a problem or a worry and I wished I could see life through their eyes.
This trip has been a steep learning curve for me in many ways, but finding out things about yourself you don't like is never an easy lesson. I had a long way to go on these roads and even further in my mind to get back to myself. Something would break soon enough and I was fighting myself all the way. All I wanted was for us to enjoy this trip, why was I making it so difficult for myself? I was only riding a bike all day. Of all the problems I'd anticipated I'd overlooked the most important one, to enjoy it!
A text message from a friend cheered me up. I was raising money for charity and doing some good. I smiled to myself and started to laugh at the sight of me drying my soaking boot by the fire.
The evening mist from the lake was making me cold for the first time in Russia, after expecting to be frozen at night time crossing Siberia, the weather has been excellent, too hot in fact during the afternoons. Two kids on a scooter stopped us. We gave them fuel, water and Geoff even gave them a cigarette, then off they went carrying a guitar with them.
Rick found a good spot to camp on the edge of Lake Baikal near to the railway. A few big puddles but I was ok following their lead until a railway sleeper hiding in a huge puddle didn't move out of the way of my front wheel! My third crash so far. Luckily I rolled across the pile of sleepers so only half of me got wet! A few scratches to the bike and an indicator retrieved by Geoff from the water while I squelched up and down with a boot full of cold water! Luckily Geoff remembered to take a picture before we dragged the bike up, and my bag proved to be waterproof but apparently I didn't look too jovial in the photo....
I sat by the fire on the beach with Rick late that night and he sensed I was fed up. I was annoyed with myself for crashing for the third time.
"Why don't you just let Russia into your heart?" he asked. I knew Russia wasn't the problem, it was me. The only thing keeping me going was Geoff and Rick, if they could do it, so can I! The ever helpful Russians were also a big help. Everyday they put a smile on my face, they are so full of life, nothings a problem or a worry and I wished I could see life through their eyes.
This trip has been a steep learning curve for me in many ways, but finding out things about yourself you don't like is never an easy lesson. I had a long way to go on these roads and even further in my mind to get back to myself. Something would break soon enough and I was fighting myself all the way. All I wanted was for us to enjoy this trip, why was I making it so difficult for myself? I was only riding a bike all day. Of all the problems I'd anticipated I'd overlooked the most important one, to enjoy it!
A text message from a friend cheered me up. I was raising money for charity and doing some good. I smiled to myself and started to laugh at the sight of me drying my soaking boot by the fire.
No comments:
Post a Comment