27 May 2012

Pictures for Aktobe to Kostanay post

School kids (age 10-11) - see more below

Endless roads across endless steppe! (3000km so far)

Many of our routes run beside the railway

Golden Oriole



Road stop near Denisovka

This reminds us of Ely Cathedral (Ship of the Fens), many towns in northern Kaz have huge "cathedrals" to collective agriculture in the form of grain silos like this one at Denisovka.  Many of these appear now to be in disuse & dilapidation

The only rock outcrp we have seen on the steppes so far was this river gorge at Denisovka, this was also the site of the only Common Ravens we have seen in Kaz so far.

Gate guardian to a collective farm

Entering Rudnyi 

Our first forest camp - and ticks

Filling a jerry can at a village standpipe

This chap explained the intricacies of the workings of the standpipe to us, as we could not get it to work.

Local shop keepers

More school kids

Mike is asked for his autograph! It was quite chilly that day but the little girl seemed to be dressed for winter!



Handsome spider - body & head about 2.5cm, colours suggest it may well be poisonous

Dilapidated farm buildings from Soviet era

Imperial Eagle nest campsite


One of many dusty drives in northen Kaz - note bumps signpost which should actually say 200km

Carol joins the war against dust!