Another nice cycling day as we crossed Ярославль and headed into the countryside. Our cycling days are definitely a bit warmer. This morning we headed back 1km to the main road and then on steadily busier roads into Ярославль. We followed the signs that said city center and soon found ourselves in some of the old city at 33km. From here we started following some signs outbound when we noticed a Russian cyclist with “Rabobank” cycling shorts. He was able to draw us a good map and explain how to best get out of the city. He also led us on a short city tour cycling along the Volga as stopping past one of the nice churches.

Now outbound! Much of the next 6km were uphill back to the main road. From here a jog left and a jog right onto a small road that went via Заячы-Холи. Just as I was getting concerned about lunch, we came to a small village with a little shop. It was closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays and also for lunch. Today it was open, and was the day the delivery truck came. People from the village much have known as they all came to the shop.

This old back road was pleasant cycling. It went up and over some low hills. Several of the villages had old churches in ruins. We followed the road until 78km and then turned to the main road to the east. This road was much more variable in condition, even after we crossed the oblast boundary into our 4th oblast. Finally at 114km, we stopped in Писцово for end of the day. We found the small store, well and tanked up for the night before find a campsite nearby. Today was another good cycling day.

115km today, 3426km across Eurasia [Photo: 583, 585]

Posted by mev as Volga at 6:33 PM EDT

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A nice solid ride today with good roads and two somewhat different halves separated by Рыбинск in the middle. Last night we had some thunder showers with lightning. Fortunately, they stopped by morning and it was just overcast. The roads were again pleasant to start. They tended to go through rather than around the villages, so we had good chances to photograph many of the old houses. At 20km was a hotel and many people out fishing. We stopped at 34km in Милюшино at the store for food. We continued to pass old villages including one where the church spire had fallen down.

At 65km we crossed a bridge where the Volga streams out of the the lake. From here we followed signs to Ярославль which took us across town and along the south via a bypass. Fortunately, we found a cafй here. Many of the same foods were again available.

After this, the road became wider and busier. There were also one or two deep gullies to cross. Otherwise, still smooth and flat roads. Тутаев was atop a hill at 115km. From here just a little further as we found a area with many small dachas and also place to get water and camp for the night.

123km today, 3311km across Eurasia [Photo: 574, 576]

Posted by mev as Volga at 6:31 PM EDT

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