Могоча, rest day
We have taken a much needed rest day in town of Могоча. The town has 15,500 people, two hotels and otherwise is a small eastern Siberian town. So far we cycled 432km of gravel roads from Чита, though reports are this and the next 800km are the toughest cycling. Today we bought food, fixed bicycles (front rack on my bike, new brake pads on Mickey’s bike). Bert joined us in cycling these last eight days from Чита. Today he took the train back to ИркутÑк. Sorry to see him go since it was more fun with three on the road than two. We also lost our Russian speaker, so back to simple speech and hand gestures with my Russian. Tomorrow plan is to take off again heading east.
Dear Mike,
Interesting, nice pictures, so Bert is gone back again.
Could you describe encounters with people,like the raiway workers you had tea with, with some more detail? Pictures with architecture also interest me more than with roads or trees.
But anyway, keep on trickin’
Uncle Gerard
I will try to describe more of the encounters than “here is a tree, here is a cafe”. Bert also took a photo of the railway workers that we uploaded.
These workers lived in the next town. Their job was to inspect and potentially repair the rails on the trans-Siberian tracks. This was a section of tracks with wooden railroad ties and bolted together rails. As ties were replaced, they would be replaced with concrete. The workers had stopped for lunch, fixed a fire and had a series of dishes spread out. Bert was riding up front and they yelled over to him. Typically we are asked (1) where are you from (2) where are you going (3) how long (4) how do you get home (5) why? So, likely these questions first. They were stopped and invited us for tea. A large pail of tea was settled over the fire. They were both friendly and curious about our travels.