Back in Russia

Monday 3rd August 2007 continued: The border crossing into Russia was uneventful. About 2 hours on the Mongolian side, and the same time on the Russian side. Each is separated by 25 kilometres of no mans land. Interesting the temporary import documents for the vehicles we waited 3 weeks to get in Port Voschney took only 20 minutes here. We paid 10,000T (A$10) in Mongolia for something, and in Russia 80RUB (A$3.20) for quarantine, and 250RUB (A$10.00) for the vehicle import documents.

Currently we are camped in Russia about 175 kilometres north of the border, beside a fast flowing river. Either side the steep craggy mountains stretch up their snow covered peaks. The mountains are covered with pine or conifer trees and the river banks by these large ‘cork wood’ trees. The cork woods are slowly changing their leaf colour from green to orange and red. It is great to see trees again.
We are now in the Altai Mountains and expect some spectacular rugged scenery.

Camp 68: Altai River Camp

Current Position: Back in Russia (Altai region)
Highlights: Uureg Nuur, Achit Nuur, Olgly a Kazakh city, A drinking session with a Kazakh family. Border crossing to Russia.
Total Distance to Date: 16,150 kilometres


Tuesday 4-6th September: Since leaving the GPS spaghetti roads of Mongolia, it is obvious we are back in a prosperous community. The two lane bitumen road arrived immediately at the Russian border, and has grown wider and smoother ever since. Into Barnaul and it had grown into a 6 lane freeway. The pace of society is reflected in the driving habits, they are all racing to meet their Maker; passing on top of hills, blind corners etc. Many times we have to move off the road for oncoming traffic and break as they move back in. Testimony is the many road side memorials that dot the roads; set atop with a steering wheel, a picture of the deceased and surrounded by plastic flowers.

Autumn is starting to happen, the white barked Birch trees are changing from green to gold. Occasionally as we drive we are showered with falling golden leaves. Moving north we leave the high mountains and are in more agricultural areas. The road follows one river valley after another. The small river we camped by a couple of days ago is now a vast river with cruise boats. It hurried down the last 1200metres in grade 2 to 5 rapids, now it must slow down; it is only 250 metres above sea level and still must travel over 4,000 kilometres to the Artic Sea.

The shops and markets are full of consumer items, advertising billboards blast their message to ‘buy me’. In reality it is like home, so unfortunately the road seems only a drive to be done. Such a change from the openness and peace of country Mongolia.

Since leaving the border three days ago we have tried to get registration of our visas at Police stations, Post offices, and even border control points but to no avail. It is a requirement that they must be registered within 3 days of arrival, so we opted to ‘shout’ ourselves a stay in a hotel and get registration. Hotel Siberia in Barnaul provided all that, and a very, very long hot shower. We do have a hot shower every night in the camper, but one always had to be conservative with the water as we only carry 60 litres.

Now totally refreshed we head tomorrow towards Moscow.

Camp 70: Actually Hotel Siberia in Barnaul.
Current Position: Barnaul- Russia
Highlights: Autumn Leaves, Staying in Hotel and 20 minute shower!

Total Distance to Date: 17,023 Kilometres