Day 36. Sunday June 26.

 Semey (Kazakhstan) to Karaul.

Distance:  188 km

Cumulative Distance: 3855 km

Time: 10 hrs 15 min

Speed:  18.1 km/hr

Feet Climbed today: 3334

Cumulative Climb: 79,691  ft 

AHR (Average Heart Rate) 116 bpm

Punctures so far: 2.     

Altitude tonight:      ft

Back in the saddle after the Rest Day and it was a tough tough long day. I did over 10 hrs cycling time, left hotel just after 5 am and arrived in camp just after 5 pm.

Had Riders Meeting and breakfast on the path outside the hotel at this early hour. Along the streets of Semey we had them to ourselves and passed over the Irytish with three of the bridges visible. 

On the edge of town a fighter jet saw us out onto the road southwards, the only road in that direction.

Once we faced south the full effect of the headwind dawned on us. As we moved out onto the steppe there was no protection whatsoever. From 20 to 40 km it reduced progress to about 14 km/hr but eased off a bit after that till lunch at 87 km.

Storm clouds appeared out to the right but we didn't receive its full force. It did start to rain and I put on the leggings and booties. But no downpour. We have been very lucky as regards rain; let's hope it continues.

Scenery today was always the same, steppe grassland with some cultivation way off to the right and left. Nothing exotic. It's a sandy clay soil and not too rich looking. When left fallow after cultivation it returns to steppe grass and low growth in 6 years. In the 1950's Khrushchev decided to plough up over 250,000 sq km of north Kazakhstan to grow wheat in one of his land schemes.

Today's road was just single carriageway with a surface better in general than last Friday. All roads leading off it were just field dirt tracks and only one village about 1 km off to the right. Didn't actually see many people today apart from those in cars. They were travelling fast but safely and almost all gave a bip whether overtaking or passing. Felt friendly and welcoming

After lunch the wind picked up again, sometimes coming in from the right and sometimes from the left. It did make it a tough day for all. Only 9 of us cycled the full day, the others took the van from lunch or later on.

It was a day of continuous pedalling and the soles of my feet got very sore and hot during the hot second half. Would love to have dipped them into a cool refreshing stream like down at the Rosy Cross. No such luck. Spotted some horses wallowing in a pond with water up over their knees. Envied them.

At one stage, I resorted to using a rain puddle on the side of the road to cool them down. Any port in a storm.

Later I spotted what looked like a lake way off in the distance. With the heat I wondered was it real or just a mirage. It was real and right by the side of the road. Off with the shoes and the relief was something else.

Long long stretches of road ahead after each rare turn. Many were in the 10 km category. Also many short sharp rises that, combined with the headwind, sapped energy and forward momentum. Every single 10 km (at 7, 17, 27 etc) was a road sign announcing bumpy road ahead for the next 10 km.

I was glad to see the town limits of Karaul at 188 km knowing that camp was just ahead in the trees. I was exhausted although I had consumed over 6 bottles of water and had eaten every 20 km after lunch. Arrived just in time for dinner but it appealed little to me (but did eat it). I just wanted to lie down for about 5 minutes to re over. Now, a few hours later, I feel refreshed and know a good night's sleep will revive the system for tomorrow.

Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.