Wɔatintim: 04.07.2022
The next morning we were on the road again on the 'Way of the Sheep' to get back to the road from Issyk Kul Lake. What started as a dirt road ended in the middle of a bumpy meadow, but we didn't feel like turning back. A few kilometers further and back on the road, we treated ourselves to an extended breakfast with a well-behaved dog that enjoyed the rest of our sausage. After that, our paths diverged, Aman drove back to Balykchy to find a bus to Bishkek. For me, I continued along the lake towards the east.
After 70 kilometers, I arrived in Cholpon-Ata, a well-known holiday resort on Issyk Kul Lake. A little above the town, you can find many petroglyphs that were worth the small detour. But the place was too expensive for overnight stay, I preferred to find a nice campsite by the lake. The clouds slowly gathered, but after another 30 kilometers, I found a place that seemed secluded enough to me. That wasn't easy on Issyk Kul Lake because of the many hotels and holiday resorts. A few hundred meters away from me, I could still see some workers on the beach. Just as I had set up my tent, it started to rain, so I cooked again in the porch. That didn't bother me, only my power bank ran out faster than expected. With a light, calming rain, I went to bed early.