Poti - Sestaponi - Borjomi

After heavy rain the night before, the campsite is still partially flooded on Friday morning (14.06.2019). After a small breakfast, it takes me a little longer to pack up, and while the tent and some clothes dry in the sun, I go to the nearby pebble beach, take a swim and shower. Then, I pack the rest of my things into my backpack and go to the train station a little to the north with Rango. I leave the Fatso in the waiting hall, plug in my battery charger, and make my way to a small bakery that I remember from last year. After coffee and Kachapuri, I stroll back to the waiting hall. The first cashier gives poor comfort. Shortly after six, a train leaves for the north, but dogs are generally not allowed, so she refers me to the marshrutkas that run towards Poti. I linger for a while, it's still early in the day. Meanwhile, the station staff befriends the Fatso and a train ride becomes increasingly possible. In the afternoon, I decide to give the marshrutkas a chance anyway. I walk with Rango to the nearest bus stop and wait. While I can't catch a regular bus, Cäsar invites me to ride in his van. The man is a police officer and has business with his colleague near Poti. They offer to take me there. That's fine with me. Around half past four, I can get off at the bus station in Poti. I organize something for dinner, fill up my drinking water at the central church, and make my way to the northwestern shore of Lake Paliastomi. Once I arrive, I promptly find a nice campground, set up our camp, and rinse both myself and my laundry in the sediment-rich brackish water. After dinner, it's time to go to bed early, as I am not completely fit yet.

On Saturday morning, thankfully, the sun hides behind a thin band of clouds for a while and does not unleash its full power. After our camp is packed up again, we return to Poti and I treat myself to coffee and a type of Khachapuri at a snack bar (in addition to cheese, egg is also used in the bread). Then we walk through the city for a while. Apart from a few panel buildings, it consists mainly of two-story multi-generational houses. I find out at the bus station that buses to the east leave near the train station. That suits me well. In the cool train station hall, I leave the Fatso, plug in my battery, and find out about the next train connection to the east. The train to Tbilisi leaves at 6.40 pm, which could take me to Sestaponi. The place is a recommendation from last year that I didn't have time to visit. I decide to inquire about a possible bus as well. And lo and behold, a bus driver is willing to take Rango (unseen) and me around noon. So I still have 40 minutes to spend in the cool train station hall with my four-legged companion. Then we drive for about 3 hours, all the way to the Georgian small town. After taking a first tour, I haven't quite grasped the reason for the recommendation yet, but so be it, I still have some time to kill until we can continue to Baku. So I organize something for dinner and find a campsite by the riverside. Swimming is not an option here, the river seemingly carries more sediment than water. Rango is of course not bothered by that. I can find some water nearby which I use for washing and rinsing laundry. Then it's back to the tent after dinner.

The Sunday sun (16.06.2019) mercilessly heats up the tent from early morning. I have to get up around seven. I have a small snack and start packing up my stuff. Finally, the clothes are being put on, and the shirt is already soaked with sweat before the last button finds its hole. Not nice. Then, I set off to the train station with Rango, the train to Khashuri leaves shortly after eleven. On the way, I stop at a small snack bar for a coffee before we meander through the village for the last few meters and arrive at the train station around half past ten. The train is already waiting and after a short time, we can get on board. It takes us about 3 hours for the approximately 60 km. So we are making rather leisurely progress. In Khashuri, I also take a stroll. The city doesn't make it very difficult for me to continue my journey. The next train to Borjomi leaves again in the evening, so I check if I can arrive in the city, famous for its water, a bit earlier. Again, I'm lucky and can get on the first minibus with the help of another passenger. So we reach Borjomi in the late afternoon. I fill up my water and look for a campground for the next night. I find one at the foot of the medieval fortress ruin with a magnificent view of the city. After freshening up a bit, I park Rango in the tent and take a little walk in the nest. I also need to find some dinner. Then it's back to the campsite and into the tent as night falls.