Did as many updates and downloads as we could before 0800
to use the night time GB we had. Although we had 10GB, 5GB of those
could only be used between 0100 and 07:59hrs. Then we had a chat to
Chris and caught up on his trip to south America and his plans for
2nd term uni. He is very busy with his social committee
role and only doing three subjects.
Next
we caught up with John who had a successful interview with a new
cellar door and will start there in a couple of weeks. He is enjoying
learning about and using his mirror less camera that his brother
bought him.
Left
shortly after 10 and drove further around the peninsular lots of
cattle and sheep but all in all a lovely area.
The stacks of dried manure from the corral where the cattle spend the night. This is dried and burnt through winter.
Filled
with diesel and then at a market bought some fruit and vege. Melons,
spuds, beetroot, lettuce (first I have seen in weeks) tomatoes,
carrots.
There
was a hair dresser and although we stood outside for 10mins, with a
family of 5 blond kids, Not sure if they were waiting their turn or
not... we didn’t get in or have any indication how long it’d be
so left. Still had some money left.
An
easy drive to the border. Cleared out of Kyrgyzstan and into
Kazakhstan with minimal fuss, and search. A
very quick crossing.
The
last of the “Stans” for us. It has been wonderful driving through
and learning a bit about these countries that we never hear about
in Australia.
North
to the town of Kegen, here we managed a lunch, then the hostess's son
took me to buy a SIM card. He was a very bright eyed lad of about 8.
SIM
successfully purchased for about AU$9 with 8GB for one month.
John
had managed to find some new wiper blades for us in the other
direction.
Nothing really changes on the land between the countries, there are numerous graveyards, animals still roam over the roads , statues of heroes stand proudly in the towns
I guess they were all the same country for awhile.
John discovered a back road through to Almaty. A small white road then
onto a track however we thought we’d give it a go. East we headed on a good sealed white road then to good gravel but the further we went the more it became track" like. Driving through the last little village we thought we’d found the end of the road but persevered through the village and mud onto a better track.
We
followed the river till about 1500m altitude then headed on up into
the hills. It was beautiful.
A little track, no vehicles and little
streams to cross, rolling hills and a vast array of wild flowers.
Through
the hills the road on our map was washed out so took one of the other wheel tracks.
Ended back on the main track and just popped up onto a hillock with fantastic views for the
night. A really beautiful spot. 2470m
284km Campsite 2486m alt.
