on route to Irkutsk

Russia is big!! and maybe a bit boring if you drive it. actually. I knew this since I took the train to Vladivostok. but its getting more and more beautiful. almost at lake Baikal now!

I left Perm in a very sunny weather, wearing shorts and a t-shirt, it actual was a pleasant day. my car was just fixed and the sun was out. found an nice open field about 1,5 km from the road to camp in the car that night. hoping it wouldn't rain as I knew there would be a lot of mud going back to the road then. also this was the first time I actually puled out my camping table, and make a proper camp. I was definitely growing confidence and got used to traveling again. this sometimes takes a bit of time for me when I do an adventure and step out of my comfort zone. back to the rain from that night, it also was the fist chance to use the 4x4 as I nodded it to come back to the highway. there was some mud and the car was sliding all over.

it was a day off hail and rain. I started thinking its going to be cold tonight. already changed to my jeans this morning and was. during one of the rainfalls that day I encounter an French man on a bike, we arranged to meet at a truck stop so we could talk a bit. (about 40 km further)we both where planning to camp there for the night, so parked my car ones there on what I thought was good and quite. while I waited for the French man it started snowing! he turned out to be cycling towards Vladivostok. we talked a bit, I was the only foreigner he had seen for a while. (since Moscow if I remember correctly)

The next morning I woke up in a white snow packed landscape.... while I was having dinner at the cafe yesterday 50 army trucks also parked up, and I started being afraid the would make a lot of noise that night. they where very quite and where slowly leaving when I woke up. however the truck that pulled besides me last night as I tucked myself in decided he wanted an warm cabin and left his engine on all night!! peach and quite that was.

you might see a lot of 2 lanes highways on these time lapses. the Russians see that differently, its a 4 lane road, just as long as there is now traffic in the other direction just se that lane.

did a detour to Tomsk. stoped in Tayshet at a home stay I stayed at when I did the train in 2016. he remembers me ferry clearly. and drove to Irkutsk for some days of rest. (another 650 km)

also had had to try the Russian post service so forgot my hard drive in Tyumen. found that out the next night I wanted to watch a movie in the car. with a bit of mailing the guesthouse in Tyumen was willing to sent it to Irkurkst. got a lot of are your sure it will will drive on time? and thought it can't be that slow? it would take me at least another small week to get to Irkutsk. seeing the route it took; Tyumen - Moscow - and I guess by air to Irkurkst as it was there the next day. a day before I was on in the city. I lost to the Russian mail..