Russia, Lake Baikal
18 July 2013
We have arrived in Russia after a 4 hour border crossing. There was an issue with our Mongolian visa which didn't come to light until we were leaving. We had been issued a multi-entry visa (used by locals to go back and forth over the border) instead of a double entry visa. They apologized and corrected it....with white out. We had obtained that visa in Vientiane in Laos as the visa could only be given within 3 months of travelling to the country, so we hadn't got it at home.
We have arrived in Russia after a 4 hour border crossing. There was an issue with our Mongolian visa which didn't come to light until we were leaving. We had been issued a multi-entry visa (used by locals to go back and forth over the border) instead of a double entry visa. They apologized and corrected it....with white out. We had obtained that visa in Vientiane in Laos as the visa could only be given within 3 months of travelling to the country, so we hadn't got it at home.
First campsite in trees for a very long time.
Guy, Robyn, Rob, Marina and Miles.
The number of trees was increasing as we drove further north in Russia. We had our first campsite in a stand of trees and our first campfire for the whole trip! Just a bit strange to be sitting around a campfire at 10.00pm and the sun is only just setting.
19 July
More driving and a stop at Ullan-Ude to get sim cards and third party insurance. The shopping experience is made a lot less frustrating as Marina can speak Russian.
Camped beside a delta area draining into Lake Baikal which is the worlds largest supply of unfrozen fresh water. The lake is over 500kms long and 1.5kms deep.
19 July
More driving and a stop at Ullan-Ude to get sim cards and third party insurance. The shopping experience is made a lot less frustrating as Marina can speak Russian.
Camped beside a delta area draining into Lake Baikal which is the worlds largest supply of unfrozen fresh water. The lake is over 500kms long and 1.5kms deep.
Delta campsite with Miles photo-bombing.
Village on the way to Lake Baikal.
|
Filling up with water from a local water pumping station while a curious local watches on before also getting water.
|
20, 21 July
Lake Baikal at last and the fishermen have arrived. So we raced off to see their catch along with all the pale Russian tourists. We had superb weather which was very lucky from local reports and the part of the lake we saw made the trip worthwhile. It would have been nice to travel further along the lake.
Lake Baikal at last and the fishermen have arrived. So we raced off to see their catch along with all the pale Russian tourists. We had superb weather which was very lucky from local reports and the part of the lake we saw made the trip worthwhile. It would have been nice to travel further along the lake.
22, 23 July
The front diff breather had broken off the truck and so we returned to Ullan-Ude to get it repaired and then travelled south back to the border into Mongolia.
The front diff breather had broken off the truck and so we returned to Ullan-Ude to get it repaired and then travelled south back to the border into Mongolia.