2017/08/05

Day 07: Kurgan - Omsk - Tatarsk

Today I will lose again one hour and I will be 4 hours ahead the European summer time. Probably the first time I'm passing time zones on the land way. (And also my hotel manager Brigitte is confused about that). And I arrive in Siberia. 

After the relaxed evening in Kurgan, I got up early. The nice receptionist arranged a few English words over night and explained the breakfast - cream cheese (the bad one!) bread and eggs.

Today I make about 850 km. - I am riding a northern arch to avoid two border crossings to and from Kazakhstan.

Right behind Kurgan the landscape converts to wide plains. I ride through a magical landscape with wheat fields and birch woods and sunflower fields. The weather is brilliant and there are less construction sites. So great riding today. And I finally make some photos.

About refueling, I have a new theory: Filling up is no problem if you pay cash. At a gas station today I took a selfie with the security. But unfortunately - I can not speak Russian and most Russians here also no foreign language.

I passed by Omsk and decided to try to get as far as possible. Didn't make a hotel reservation and just was going on. From time to time there are roadside accommodations, but they look often not very inviting. A hotel Brigitte had suggested for Tatarsk, I couldn't find. Satnav said, "arrived at destination" but there was no hotel.

Coincidentally I saw a bike coming from a side street, and I waved to them for help. Mikael and Irina. Great luch that I met them. Irina can speak English very well and is happy to be able to apply it. He is a member of a motorcycle club and calls his club friends to check if I can stay there. Since the local motorcycle club organizes a Folk concert with two groups and free entrance (that is in the village square) this evening, I can't stay there. Nevertheless we first go to the clubhouse and one of the bosses there, "Aviator", is very welcoming. I get something to eat and a tea and Irina works as a interpreter very well. 

Then we ride to the village square, where the concert takes place - big show with the foreigner! There is a hotel nearby, big building, large room, however breakfast is offered only from 10, so that will be canceled for me. As it turned out later, the Canadian-Swedish tour group stayed also in this hotel.

Of course I am invited to the concert and there I meet again with Mikael and Irina. The second group plays Northern Irish Folk, quite well to listen. They are amateurs, who are apparently not even paid for. Later I get to know the musicians in person and get a CD from the second group as a present.

After the concert we return to the clubhouse. There is a large BBQ. The aviator, while he's turning the meat on the grill, tells that he is an artist, a sculptor, and he also tells about his father, who was in war in Germany probably ... as far as I understand.

Later I get a T-shirt with "90 years Tatarask district" and a few stickers of the motorcycle club.

Of course, I have to write into the guestbook of the motorcycle club, which has already received guests from all countries, as well as in the guestbook of the folkband "X Pipes". Finally, we have a group photo with musicians and all present people.

A great evening, the hospitality really is overwhelming. Mikail and Irina finally accompany me to the hotel, so I can't get lost.