2019-07-19 Day 295 Fri

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 2^nd 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. 

2019-07-18 Day 294 Thu.

Great internet connectivity.

The local goat /sheep herd came down for a drink in the saline lake. 

Got quite a bit of catch up done, both in posting blogs and uploading photos,  and around lunch time we decided to stay another night so I could get the blog up to date. 

A really lovely spot. We went for a quick dip and although it is classed as a warm lake i.e. does not freeze in the winter it however was too cold for me to stay in very long.

We had a glass of wine with our lunch and then had an afternoon nap -  very civilized.

People slowly came down to the beach but the closet person was still over 100m meters away. No one came to talk to us.

Managed to get blog post up until one day ago and all the photos up to date. A big day on the laptop but all done now.

Tried to cook roast chook but the inner pan hits the lid of the camp oven so all the juices ran back and it was more like boiled…. But was still nice.

However my lemon delicious pud turned out extremely well.

Watched a first of a series and had a good nights sleep. The wind stopped and the waters were just a gentle rustle during the night.

 0km  Campsite  1602m alt.

2019-07-17 Day 293 Wed

A gorgeous morning on the lake, calm with sunshine and a few fisherman out in boats and the sand. Very inviting for a swim but we did not go in.

We tried to do internet stuff but the signal was not strong enough.

I blew out the radiator with compressed air but could only do short bursts as needed the engine on for air but off so I could get between the fan blades… So lots of engine starts. Very dirty and should have some more cleaning. Just hope it helps with the overheating of the engine.

 

Stopped by the lake for a quick lunch and watched some locals swim then on again to Karakole.

Finally saw some of these service ramps in use.

Coming up to road works I saw the 40km/hr sign and not the 20 so the cop pulled me over. 
 

First he told me it was 5500com (AU$110). I said OK, and he then showed me a list of prices and for between 40km and 60km that was the price. He said I could pay 3000 I said no I’ll pay the lot with a receipt then it was 1000 then back to the car and the boss who showed me same paper but the 20km to 40km at 3000 I said OK he had another look at my passport said “tourist” and let me go…..

Into Karakole and a supermarket where we managed to spend half of our local currency. John found a 3 lt box of Chilean wine for 1000 (AU$20).

Around the top of the lake and down onto a peninsular that was 20km’s long. Found a lovely camp just on the edge of the lake. A lot of people were driving out from their day at the beach. The road in places was very rough but well worth it. The wind was blowing and the small waves were crashing on the beach. Quite a noisy camp.

139km Camp site  1602m alt.

2019-07-16 Day 292 Tue

The yogurt had not set. I forgot to wrap it in a towel I think the poor old thermo case is a bit cracked and lets out heat. I caught up on the writing of the blog, but could not post as no internet. Then I started on photos. John sat outside reading his book. A lovely spot here. Finished the chocolate cake with morning tea then I put the yogurt pot in boiling water within 8 mins it was over cooked but at least we could leave. I walked ahead. The wild flowers are everywhere. We finally popped out the end of the gorge.

Even though John walked over to the fence he did not know what the disks were.

 Once again amazing grave sites.

  

Just before we crossed the bridge we stopped to chat to a couple of cyclists, Australians at last!!

They told us of the track that they had come on but when we looked there was a small bridge, so went the main route.

We chatted for a good half hour or so then watched two huge birds have a tussle. I photographed the loser on the way past.

The views were great but the road became a track with washed out culverts.

Met a couple of vehicles with a Israeli lady aboard with a little English. The guide/driver wanted to know how far to the town…..

As we progress we were impressed at what ground the cars had traversed - they had already made it thru the worst of it.

Caught up with one of the Russian "combi" vans that was out of petrol. We gave them a tow to the pass only a few km’s - but steep. The fuel pick up may be in the back of the tank….

A very rocky pass!!

Down hill all the way to the lake. A long ride and rough and two small bridges but all good.










 Down the narrow gorge to the lake and found an easy camp, but late 20:30 on dusk, sitting on the sandy beach with internet.

An omelette for dinner.


138km Campsite 1608m alt.

2019-07-15 Day 291 Mon

A short drive out to the “red road” we pumped up the tires to 45psi and flew down the reasonable road. 

At Naryn we stopped at a Chinese style restaurant under a hotel and shared a bottle of beer and two very flavorsome dishes.

With the wifi we caught up on a few things and I sent the email to the girls parents.

We did a shop and I upgraded our internet for all provinces another $2 for 10GB but the catch had to pay another 40som to enable to share it again….. Very cheap but very annoying….

Bought some apricots, nectarines & tomatoes. Then we headed east to the narrow gorge.

The grave yards never cease to amaze. In the middle of nowhere and such elaborate "Head stones"

 

About 10km’s out of town  I realized we forgot fuel. John looked at the plastic tank and could not see any which didn’t quiet make sense.

Back to town to fill up. Both tanks full and yes there was 25 litres in plastic tank. Out of town again.

Donkey drawn hay rake. The contrast between the old and the mobile phone always makes us smile.

 Some of the bridges were made of wood and were of an interesting design. 

 A group of kids in the middle of nowhere (well there were a few yurts) out playing on the swing.

 The narrow gorge was neat but made it hard to find a camp.

 Finally saw a cow being milked.

Eventually one camp materialized down by the river.

168km Campsite  2480m alt.