So long Leningradskaya oblast, we will miss you along with your mostly smooth roads. Today at 56km we crossed over into Volgodaya oblast.

It was fortunately warmer waking up. We continued a pattern I’m sure will repeat with me leaving a little earlier and Mickey cycling faster and catching up. The first 39km were wonderfully smooth road. Some headwinds but otherwise great riding. We stopped in Сомино at 41km at a café for a snack. More good Solyanka soup and tea that really hit the spot. From here cycling to the oblast boundary which we crossed at 56km.

The first 7km of the new oblast were a horrible concrete road that had deteriorated with large gaps. I slowed to a crawl. Fortunately, the road improved after that, though a combination of wind and roads kept things slower. Finally at 78km in Сазоново was another café and another soup. Unfortunately, no alcohol for the stove here either. We did stock up on some more food since we were warned that this was the last café for 100km.

From Сазоново it was a slow slog into the wind. At around 103km we had ridden our 100km for the day, so found a village and went for the water ritual. We spotted a man by a house and asked. He invited us in. The grandmother had soup ready in a microwave and the grandson showed his toys. We ate and explained our trip, and tried to thank them for the hospitality. We did decline the offer of some vodka. Of course, we also left loaded with water.

Towards evening, the wind was picking up and hints of rain. So we quickly found a campsite nearby and packed in the tents. My hubba worked fine for the small storm and was a great end to the day.

104km today, 2892km across Eurasia [Photo: 540 542]