This is brief update by Gordon on behalf of the
Gobi Gals...
Since their last update on Tuesday 5th June, when
they crossed into Russia, they have made good progress - well, except for some
more repairs to Belle's scoot engine!
Riding into Astrakhan, on the Northern coast of the Caspian Sea, Belle's
bike conked out - all possible checks proved hopeless. Leaving her scoot in the safe keeping of a
local chap - leaving it for the night in his front garden - they made it to a
nearby local hotel...
The next day they were taken, with her ailing
bike, to a project for local boys - which was half boxing club & half
motorbike mechanic's workshop. The
problem was quickly diagnosed as the valves needing adjustment. They boys at the club not only sorted this
they bought Belle & Nads a large bag of groceries & cooked them some
lunch (fish to Belle's horror!! But, quickly replaced with chicken which she
can eat!). Several hours of labour,
shopping & lunch amounted to the total sum of - no charge at all!! Once
again the kindness of strangers came to their rescue...
As time was getting on the GG's spent a second
night in a hotel close to Astrakhan. The
latest update from them on Sunday 10th June at 12.30pm Russian time (9.30am UK
time) is that they're waiting behind just 4 cars to cross in Kazakhstan. Once through the border they'll be on the
road to the nearby city of Atyrau...
They spent two nights this week wild camping for
the first time on this trip. The weather
was kind to them as it was warm but a little windy. They found Russian fields to make excellent
campsites!
