We were looking to wild camp again, only this time I wanted to use the hammock. It was about time to find somewhere when I spotted a communications tower up on a hill. If I could find the access road it could be good.

We found a good track right up to the top, where a secure compound housed the generators and comms equipment for the tower. I’ve seen that before! About 50 yards down the track was a good looking spot so we setup camp.

It was awesome. We had some altitude so it was cooler, away from the swamps with a lot fewer mosquitoes. (Skeeter’s in American). We had Sergei’s home made whiskey with our dinner and I went to bed leaving Ken and Chip to their HIC-HOP.

I was soundly asleep until the boys came to wake me. A security patrol had arrived and wanted us to leave. They were at the top and would be back in 5 minutes, by which time we were supposed to be gone. I got dressed and waited for them to come down. 3 armed guys in a van.

When they did I introduced us and explained that it was both illegal and dangerous for us to ride our bikes. We we had been drinking and the legal limit was zero alcohol. The lead guy though about that for some time. I said we’d be there for one night only and would be gone at first light.

That seemed to swing it. He warned us in good English not to go to the top, and said they would see if we did on the cameras. His English was excellent, so I think a little Russian definitely goes a long way!