Day 9 - when things go wrong...

So there is always a bad day on a trip and this was going to be it.  We had just got into bed last night when Julie had to dash to the toilet, vomiting everywhere.  When I woke in the morning at 5, I was feeling crook too and made several trips to the loo to vomit.  It appears that most of the group ended up losing last night’s meal, but as Caroline was already sick before the meal we think it may have been a bad batch of water from earlier in the day.  Who knows?  But some were worse than others and we were a bedraggled lot that regrouped in the morning.  Svetlana’s car was packed with people and Andrey’s truck carried a couple also.  But the rest of us had to soldier on.  No time for photos along the way, tho I may have had the gopro working, so will check for some stills from that - one day!

Its amazing how weak it makes one feel.  But it was only a short distance of 40km to ride on this day, so most thought that they would be able to make it.  I was a tad worried about myself…

Slowly we dragged our things together, got the bikes out of the storage space and trundled off.  It was a beautiful day and the road was in pretty good condition, but that generally means that it’s busy – and it was.  There was plenty of shoulder to ride along, but it was generally not that very interesting country.  Forest, farmlands and an occasional small village – ho hum, when you’re not feeling the best.  And it was hot and already dehydrated and a bit scared to drink too much, didn’t help.

By the time we got to the jewellery place, we were all pretty exhausted and Vladimir called a taxi to take 4 of the sickest straight to the motel.  I put my hand up to be one of them, but am not loud enough and of course missed out on a seat.  I was too tired to go into the jewellery place, tho I heard that they had silver in there too, so would have liked to have seen some of that.

Anyways, we soldiered on.  I had to take it easy and Timothy just trailed along behind me.  Another thing that pissed me off was because I was the last one, the mob waited at various spots until we caught up and as soon as we did they moved on – so no rests for me and Timothy –who also wasn’t feeling that well, either. On one small rise which normally wouldn’t have bothered me, I totally lost my breath and had to pull over absolutely gasping and really struggled to get breathing again.  But eventually I was OK and on we went. 

So I really don’t remember much of this days ride – I may have missed quite a few things, as I just concentrated on turning the pedals and staying upright.

 But eventually we came to the Volga again – thankfully on a sealed road most of the way, only just a little dirt track the last bit.  We could see the city of Ples on the other side of the river and Vlad called up the water taxi, who came zooming over to collect us.  But he didn’t want to take our bikes, so another phone call and another ferry man headed over.

 There was nothing special about these probably 12-14 ft alum dinghies, so we loaded in 4 at a time and were quickly buzzed across the narrower river.  While waiting for our bikes I bought some Mohita – ie, soda water flavoured with lemon, lime and mint and a packet of chips and slowly munched away on that.  I was starting to feel a little better but oh sooooooooooooo tired.

We rode (and walked) up the hill to our Motel – which was a bit shonky over all.  Twin share rooms meant, one double bed and a dicky folding bed – for a child.  Was so tired I didn’t care what sorta bed, to took the folding bed. But when I sat on the edge, it bent and one of the slats fell out.  I manage to wedge it back in and because I was so tired I was able to sleep on it OK.  I missed out on the tour of the town and the museum.  Instead, soaked in a bath then went to sleep until it was time for dinner.   I managed the mushroom soup then straight back to bed again.  So a day I want to cross off, but I did survive it!  Just!