Kazakhstan, Cycling The World 11th-September-2012

Garry McGivern’s cycling around the world, Tuesday, 11th-September-2012, in Aktobe. I’ve decided to stay another night in Aktobe as I didn’t get everything done I wanted to yesterday. I had done most of it, but I still needed to give the bike a clean after all the dust of the past week. I was probably carrying an extra twenty pounds in weight. I’m not even sure how the chain was still going around. It was so caked up with muck!

After breakfast, I went down to reception to get my bike out, saying I was off to get it cleaned, to which the very helpful girl from yesterday said, it’s been done! Sorry, I said. She said she’d mentioned to the bell boy that my bike needed cleaning. And he’d sorted it out and got it cleaned! Okay, the chain still needed cleaning properly, but the rest of the bike was sparkling.

Off In Search

With my note from the girl on reception and a map she’d also given me, I set off in search of a garage, which was relatively easy to find. I tried to explain what I wanted to the man in the garage, but he didn’t understand. So I handed over the note and immediately got a response, with somebody cleaning my chain. When they’d finished, I asked how much, and they said nothing and wouldn’t take anything at all!

Mosque with gold dome
The central mosque in Aktobe

That was it then. There was nothing else I needed to do. I did a bit of sightseeing, but it’s quite chilly today with a cold wind. I then returned to the hotel and retired to the bar, where I stayed for the rest of the day. Getting reacquainted with my friend Stella! I might not see her again for a long time! I also met my mate Gordon and his friend Tonic later on.

Please Donate

Don’t forget the main reason behind my ride. I want to raise as much money for cancer research charities as possible. After my wife, Josie, died of breast cancer in 2007, aged only 42. Even the smallest donation helps. You can donate to Cancer Research UK or the Australian National Breast Cancer Foundation. Click on either one to donate. Every little bit helps to rid the world of this cruel disease.

Subscribe to Garry’s blog and follow Garry’s journey around the world. Plus, you’ll receive news and updates on future tours.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Social media & sharing icons powered by UltimatelySocial