This week’s on this day post comes from the 16th-September-2012, and I’m in Kazakhstan. It’s been a tough few days, with long days in the saddle and camping wild at night. But on this day, I got things slightly wrong and nearly ran out of water. But I still managed to cycle 127 miles.
Sunday 16th September 2012 – From one place I didn’t have a clue to another! 127 miles.
There really isn’t a lot to see around here. There are just miles and miles of flat scrubland. I’ve not even seen any wild horses today. So it’s no wonder I’ve cycled so many miles.
After camping wild last night, I’d started the day off short of water. I was getting a little worried around mid-morning when I was down to my last litre, especially as it was now starting to get hot. And looking at the map, there didn’t look as if there was any likelihood of getting any. There was no sign of a town or village for miles. I had intended to go and find the village that the young lad I met last night was from to top up on water before I set off but forgot!
Now that I was short of water, I felt thirstier than ever and was trying to drink as little as possible, but I was now starting to feel a little lightheaded and cranky. It was just coming up to one o’clock, and I’d already cycled eighty miles. Then, out of the blue and in the middle of nowhere, I came across a little café, which was a very welcome sight. I immediately drank one litre of water and two litres of fizzy and felt much better. After rehydrating and taking in some food, I stocked up on water before continuing my ride.
I’m not too sure about tonight’s campsite. I’m camping wild again. I’ve come away from the road but can’t find any cover whatsoever, not a pylon, storm drain or tree anywhere in sight. It’s just so flat and open. Thankfully my tent is a fawn colour and blends in quite well with the scenery.
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