So with a dramatic change in tempo we left ouк ( apologies I can't stop this Lake Baikal laptop autocorrecting, and photos will have to wait) mad rush of catching a number of buses oк trains per day for thу serenity of the 5,000 kilometres of Transiberian Route 2, covering 20% of our trip in 76 hours of the rather surreal semi-confinement conditions, with only a one or two chances per day to escape the occassionally air-conditioned Vagon 1 for a slightly anxious 1 - 30 minute (babushka dictated) stop at a variety of generally sparse and dispondent siberian railway towns.
Having passed more trees than anyone can imagine, been subjected to a wider variety of alcohol by Andrujey and Katya our compartment companions than in an average Friday night out in Stroud (doesn't that seem a long way away!?!?), more time to reflect on everything we've ever thought about than in a normal year of being back home, and passing notablу locations such as the crash site of Gary Power's U2, the obelisk marking the line between European and Asian Russia, rather severe looking army bases and many of the towns mentioned by the geographer Humboldt (as of Humboldt current) and a Mr RJ Jefferson who spent much of the end of the 19th century cycling from London to various Siberian locations..... One up on us!
Many more stories to tell, but they will have to wait. We're now at Lake Baikal near Irkutsk for 36 hours break froms trains before heading south to Ulan Bataar.
Moscow - Irkutsk: 5,200 km / 76 train hours
TOTAL TO DATE: ~8,500 km
FUND RAISING TOTAL: "GBP 2,200 including Gift Aid - Keep those donations coming!
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