Region Talas

After having breakfast in a relaxed manner on Thursday morning (26.09.2019), we check out of our accommodation in Taras. We spend some of our last tenge on food, use our remaining data volume to play around for a while (uploading pictures and downloading podcasts), and drive towards the Kyrgyz border around noon. Due to time constraints (30 days in Kazakhstan coming to an end), we have decided to leave the country and travel to Almaty via Kyrgyzstan. We reach the border in the early afternoon and have to queue up. There is a lot of hustle and bustle and sometimes a lot of confusion. We park Schrotti on the side of the road and watch the activities for a while. When we try to merge back into the line, a van from behind pushes so hard that Markus bumps into it while reversing with Schrotti. After I almost had to forcibly take back our vehicle insurance papers from the man (he would have preferred to exchange them directly for money), the initial excitement subsides quickly. We cross the border separately and I have to wait for Markus on the Kyrgyz side for quite a while. Our stuff was thoroughly checked. Except for a folding knife that one of the border guards seemed to like, there were no objections. There is also no sign of our van driver who wanted to meet us again on the Kyrgyz side of the border. So we can immediately start driving further into the country. The Kurov Reservoir is located about 20 km southeast of the border crossing. Here we plan to spend the next night. In Kysyl-Adyr, we want to withdraw Kyrgyz currency, but postpone the plan to the next stop because the ATM charges fees. Then we drive through the village towards the water and set up our tents right by the water. A little too close, as it would turn out in the following night. After a swim and dinner, we retreat under our tarps.

Early Friday morning, it must have been around half past five, I am awakened by a 'Steffen, Schrotti is in the water!'. 'Well then, move!' is my short answer, even before I crawl out of the tent. Despite the softened ground, reversing goes quite smoothly and after Markus has also evacuated his tent, we can lie down again. I think I have enough distance with my shelter and want to keep an eye on the rising water level. When we get up three hours later, I also have a waterfront property. After breakfast, it is time to pack up the tent. Before we head to Talas in the early afternoon, we take the opportunity for another swim and to rinse our laundry. It is sunny and a bit windy, so the clothes are quickly dry again. Then we load our belongings into Schrotti's trunk and continue driving eastwards. In Talas, we take a detour, organize money, SIM cards, and some food. I can once again find a beef heart for Rango, but he refuses to eat it for now. Silly dog. We spend some time in a park near the city center, take another stroll through the small town, and then continue east. There is an ancient mosque to visit in Tasch-Aryk, and a small museum gives a brief insight into the history of the Talas Region. Then it's high time to shoot a short video clip - my friend Martin is getting married the next day and I want to send him some wedding greetings. After the fourth or fifth attempt, we have some usable footage just in time before the sun sets completely. A perfect landing. Then we find a camping spot near the Talas River and end the evening with a shared dinner.

On Saturday morning (28th September 2019), there are a few maintenance and care tasks for both man and equipment. It is around noon when we set off again. We continue east along the main road. In Taldy-Bulak, the last village before the mountains, we replenish our water and food supplies. Then it's time to climb into the mountains. We drive on gas, but can't go full throttle, Schrotti is literally choking. So we struggle uphill in the lower two gears. I occasionally adjust the gas supply, but without a major breakthrough. Nevertheless, we manage to overcome the pass at an altitude of about 3200 m. Then we drive a bit further on a plateau to the east, before we look for a place for our tents by a small mountain stream. While we prepare dinner, we are surprised by a short rain shower and it noticeably cools down. I use some of Rango's beef heart for our meal and promptly the big guy is interested in the piece of meat as well. Food envy makes it happen. Then we retreat into our warm sleeping bags after dinner.