This text is 3 days old, had phone issues.

This text is 3 days old, had phone issues. - So here we are, barely 1 day into our 2 day train journey to Almaty. We are literally in cattle class. No air con & just the remnants of our camping kit to sleep on. No one seems to speak English but the staff now seem to understand we are not here illegally. - Have made it to Almaty, you will have to wait for the full story of how we got here but are on a flight to Heathrow tomorrow.

Finally managed to get local cash but they wouldn't take $5 & $10 notes! Roads not as bad as they seemed last night and have ridden till nearly dark. Chaz had a moment when he hit some pot holes at 50, huge tank slapper followed but some how kept it all upright & the Russian spokes held up to the punishment. Heading for Aktobe tomorrow but roads are poor and are hammering the bikes. Now against the clock with Russian visa.

While our time in Volgograd has been great and the owner of Bikecity has bent over backwards to make us comfortable it was great to finally hit the road again today at 6pm after nearly 5 days lost and a repair bill of about £70 + uncounted costs for food and beds. We are now going to head straight across Kaz, there is no time to follow the original route. Hope to be very close to the Kaz border tomorrow. Not doing a night crossing though.

OK. So here we are in rainy Volgograd. Another busted spoke!! The bikes are now sat in a place called Motorcycle City and the problem child is having her arse completely re-laced with new Ural spokes. We have no idea of cost yet but will be happy to know the bugger is fixed once and for all.

Feel as tho we have had a good day. If we can keep the pace up we may make the Kaz border tomorrow, pending more mechanical issues. Altho we will not do a night crossing again. Not sure when this message will actually get out as the Russian network will not let up dial home on any of the phones.