June 9th, 2016

Thursdays reward at the end of play was 50k into my log book. Total for 89 road days is now 3,346km. Apologies to my American readers that I didn't realise I passed the 2,000 mile mark a couple of days ago!

Though the rain had stopped the traffic continued to be endless for I walked mostly on the gravel for ten hours in which I made only one 70 minute break which I took at 18 km into my day. However, there was some respite when the road became four lane for about 20km. Around the 30k mark I was feeling low in energy for not am I only drinking a little but I am also eating very little on the road. Just then a friendly Russian cyclist called Anton came along. He was on a ten day trip. He spoke enough English to have a basic conversation which include an interview from me which he said he would put up online. It's amazing how the mind reacts because as I mentioned I was having an energy crisis and then when Anton got me talking about ultra running competition and asked about coping strategies, from that moment on I had a surge of energy for the next 20 km to my finish. He cycled on as unfortunately there was no cafe, I regret I did not take his photo.
That night I camped at the side of a restaurant and after a quick cup of coffee an some biscuits in my tent I departed at 9:30. I often waste an hour over breakfast and prefer to make a stop later as that hour can be a proper break. That's what I did this morning. After a chat to a woman who was selling fancy packaged fruit I stopped after 12km at a bus shelter in this unpronounceable village, please see photo. Just after I set up my table with porridge, coffee, juice and biscuits Vladimir cycled by for a chat.
As mentioned in last post (which many people wrongly seemed to misinterpret for unfriendliness) Vladimir talked on at length even though I had no idea what he was talking about, this to my extensive experience is unusual, I find the Russians to be very friendly and we usually have a laugh with my google translations! However, my most used word is 'Princessa' as I call every woman I meet or who serves me a princess, their smile, especially from the elderly women is priceless. Occasionally they look at their partner as if to say.... " How come you never call me that? And takes a rambling Irishman to respect me!"