Good Morning Kazakhstan

Actually, it is now the afternoon here in Kazakhstan but I have just had a good morning tidying up admin and uploading some photos to the site (here) from May. May, where on earth did you go?! It seems to have flown by, taking two countries with it, but leaving me with lots of stories and images of new experiences and lands. It has really been a story of people, this cycling lark, a real contrast to the ocean phases of the expedition.

A real rest

I am  in Atyrau, a rather dusty city which sits just North of the Caspian Sea in the South West of Kazakhstan. During the Soviet era it was hugely important as a port town into the Caspian, but now the channels are no longer dredged and it is most important for its oil and gas, as much of this region is. It is significant too in that on one side of the river I am in Europe and when I cross shortly I shall be in Asia, the second continent of the expedition.

One of my 'Rest days' included a 60km cycle with the Atyrau Cycling Club - fast and fun

I have been here a few days now, having arrived in the cool of night last Thursday May 26^th after the longest pedal of the journey so far. 210 km through the Kazakh steppe and semi desert, sweating through sweltering heat and pushing into cheeky headwinds at times. Having intended only to stay for 36 hours I have been kept here by bits of kit admin, lovely expat hospitality and a shout out from my body saying that it was rather enjoying the rest, especially  as my cold seems to be lingering on.  I always find it surprising how fatigue, both mental and physical, catches up with you when you stop and rest and you realize just how hard you have been working.

The extra time preparing my kit and sorting out bits and pieces to send home is really valuable, too as the next phase will be one of the most challenging sections of cycling of this leg to Japan. Extreme heat, poor road surfaces (or indeed no road surfaces!) and long distances between towns and water stops mean that I need to carry extra food and water over what I would normally carry. The other day, for example, I had a 150km gap between water stops, so carried ten litres – Hercules looked like a heavily laden pack horse with water bottles strapped on and panniers bulging.

Salty muddy sand flats where recent rains have dried up

Water is scarce out here on the steppe

Just as Ukraine was a country of contrasts for me, Kazakhstan really feels like a whole new world as well. It is wonderful and feels like the adventure has really started now, making me realize that Europe was a rather gentle introduction to life on the road. That said, Germany’s hills made me sweat! I am especially keen on the new wildlife of late – camels, snakes, terrapins and lots of new birds and insects.

I am preparing a little video to upload in the next few days as a round up to  the first two months of the expedition, but for now thought I would touch base with a few photos from my first ever Kazakh birthday.

Waking with the dawn

I rose early with the sun at 0530 and was away pedaling by 0700.

Cards from home

It was  210km to Atyrau through the steppe. Dried out lakes left mud flats across the landscape, which was otherwise a mix of greens and yellows with the spring flowers and grasses. Soon they will all be brown, dried out in the heat which will rise from its current 35 degrees into the forties. Apparently it is unusually cool for this time of year.

Birthday phone call with BBC Radio Leicester and a surprise link with my brothers

Roadside lunch, sheltering next to Hercules for shade. More pscyhological than actual with the sun overhead

Now its time to hit the road again – I have itchy feet and don’t want to lose the rhythm of the ride. I also need to be in Almaty in three weeks to meet Justine, our team camerawoman, who will be flying out to join me on the bike with her camera, so we’ve some miles to munch.

Until next time,
Sarah and Hercules x

PS

Thanks for all the  birthday messages and birthdaycards and donations to my charities – if anyone missed the boat and wants to help in our mission to support Coppafeel!, Jubilee Sailing Trust, MND Association and WaterAid then please click here

PPS Huge thanks to everyone in Russia for their warm hospitality – those who escorted me in police cars or on bikes, hosted me in their hotels or their homes, showed me their cities, stopped to offer me food or drink at the roadside  or just tooted and waved to say hello. It was an extraordinary experience and I was really touched by it.

PPPS Another huge thanks to the Gullands, Shaun and Ben for all your help and hospitality in Atyrau  – great to meet you