Well almost! After splashing out the past few days I’m back to wild camping, but I have to say it’s great! I checked back into the Art Kultura hostel when the girls left, as it was late in the day to be leaving a big city. I also had a few errands to run.

First up was a trip to the supermarket to buy some food. I had the last of the porridge on Friday morning, which considering I wanted it to get me through Mongolia has done really well!! I knew I’d be camping tonight so I stocked up with a few meals. I also saw eggs, which I haven’t had in a while and I’ve really missed. Eggs are difficult to carry on a bike, so I decided I’d make myself a full English back at the hostel. Yum!!

I also had to collect my uk driving licence. I’d left it at the Stop House hostel in Novosibirsk and the staff there contacted me on Facebook. They posted it to a friend of theirs in St Petersburg for me to collect. Thanks very much Mikel and Elena! The last little job I did was change the oil, easy peasy!

By the time I left it was half twelve! I then had to negotiate the city traffic, which was bad. After leaving the city there was a huge traffic jam for roadworks about 50 km out. The kind of jam where engines are off, doors are open and drivers are waking around chatting. Just when I thought things were looking good!

I’ve only made 200km today, but I don’t mind as I don’t really have a schedule to keep. I just have to be mindful of the weather, not leaving it too late to get through the Arctic circle! Brr!