Jembi - Schalqar

On September 13, 2019, Friday morning welcomes us with sunny weather at the Aktobe Reservoir. So we start the day relaxed and enjoy the sandy beach and clear water. Since our dog has been rejecting the food offered to him for quite a while, we fry some chicken thighs to go with our buckwheat. Prepared this way, the meal also piques Rango's interest... What a gourmet. A cup of coffee rounds off the brunch. In the early afternoon, we leave our campsite and drive south along the A-27 road. This decision turns out to be a moderate mistake as the road conditions are mostly bad and Markus is visibly annoyed. We miss our turn onto the A-26 to Jembi near Qandyaghasch. When we realize the mistake, we have already fought our way southwest for about 30 km along a construction site and decide to take a small road via Temir and Kenkiyak to Jembi. To our surprise, this road is in excellent condition and Markus enjoys driving again. We pause in Kenkiyak briefly and I drive the next stretch to Jembi, the last few kilometers have worn out my driver a bit. Here, the road mostly presents itself as a dirt road or a succession of (paved) potholes. The drive feels like an expedition. What initially provides fun due to the challenge eventually becomes nerve-wracking. To make matters worse, our front right wheel bearing is making unpleasant noises again. So I am also relieved when we arrive in Jembi in the evening and take a break at a supermarket for dinner. There, we are questioned and checked by two police officers and eventually invited to camp at their station. Thus, the day finds its well-deserved end in front of the police station in Jembi.

On Saturday morning, around eight o'clock, the public traffic at our campsite finally drives us out of bed. We pack up and set out to find a store for car parts. After two unsuccessful attempts, we have breakfast at a bus stop before continuing our search for a new wheel bearing. Until noon, with the help of some local children, we have visited all the shops in the small town and it seems that we won't find a suitable bearing here. So we head towards Schalqar. The road conditions are mostly catastrophic again and it takes us about 8 hours to cover the approximately 180 km. We pause for a cup of coffee on the way but otherwise drive almost all the way into the city. It is already dark and the lights of Schalqar are in sight when Markus unintentionally chooses the wrong way and we get stuck somewhere in the middle of nowhere in the mud with Schrotti (our car). Until then, we have only driven through bone-dry landscapes and it remains a mystery where the water for this mean trap we have fallen into comes from. It takes us almost an hour to free ourselves from this predicament. We try to get out of the puddle with the help of two boards that we carry with us as a seating option. Unfortunately, without success. Finally, pushing, rocking, and moving the mud aside mostly falls on Markus. Someone has to steer Schrotti with at least somewhat clean hands. I am not unhappy about the division of labor. Finally arrived in Schalqar, we buy a few things and then look for a spot on a beach near Lake Schalqar. After dinner, we are exhausted and go to bed.

On Sunday morning (September 15, 2019), we start the day with oatmeal and milk topped with fruit. After our morning coffee, we swim in the lake, wash clothes and Schrotti, and then leisurely pack up our camp. Then we head into the city. Just like Jembi, Schalqar is also characterized by dusty dryness. We go from spare parts store to spare parts store and make a circle in the center near the train station. Since we have had no luck with our wheel bearing so far, we decide to ask in one of the shops if it can be ordered. The man makes some phone calls and explains that the bearing can be picked up the next morning or maybe even in the evening. Sounds very good. So in the afternoon, we drive back to the beach full of confidence. I clean Schrotti's taillights because the increasing functionality of our means of transportation should also be visible. Then the evening falls, we have a small meal, and retire to our tents.