Kazakhstan | Karpovka | N 49.07981° | E 80.76004° | Around 5:30 we came to the River Tsar and decided to stop on the south east side of the bridge for the night. A herd of horses were using the bridge and river to get relief from the heat and during the evening a number of travelers stopped to cool off in the river. |
Kazakhstan | Kurata | N 48.19138° | E 80.46519° | A little while later we found a track heading east and camped in the grass about 100m from the road. |
Kazakhstan | A350 | N 45.66881° | E 80.27062° | Resorting to a favourite South America trick we found a gravel pit for our evenings camping spot. |
Kazakhstan | A350 | N 44.17170° | E 77.64818° | At the start of a long section of road construction, about 130km from Almaty, we found a wide area to pull off the road for our nights camp. It was not quiet as the road crew seemed to be working 24/7. |
Kazakhstan | Almaty | N 43.23290° | E 76.93925° | Without much trouble we found our way to the Holiday Inn. They found a place for us to put the truck on their property and checked in we showered and tried to relax after deducing that this Holiday Inn was costing us $300 per night. The receptionist confirmed that our visas had not been registered with the migration police but that on Monday they (the hotel) could do that for us for a fee of 10000T (US$67). |
Kazakhstan | Almaty | N 43.23311° | E 76.93931° | Our second night at the Holiday Inn. Nice hotel, helpful staff, but proof that Almaty is an expensive city. |
Kazakhstan | Almaty | N 43.32945° | E 76.95857° | As night approached we moved a little further down the street to a wide almost empty parking lot and thought we had found a good place for the night; but we were wrong. Over the next few hours a number of cars and motocycles gathered in the parking lot and we were treated to a display of trick motorcycle riding (wheel stands both front and rear) and cars showing the drivers drifting skills. This later display completely freaked Nina out so at about 10:00pm we departed from the parking lot back to the quiet street where the Mercedes dealer was located and found an area to pull over and park for the night. |
Kazakhstan | Charyn Canyon | N 43.32945° | E 76.95857° | As the LonelyPlanet says "it's no Grand Canyon but it is worth a visit". We found a flat place to park at the level of the plateau that forms the top of the canyon; turned the truck to take advantage of the breeze (a cross breeze through the camper windows) and settled in to a comfortable evening. |
Kazakhstan | Almaty | N 43.32954° | E 76.95852° | We camped tonight in the same street as a few nights ago; just up the street from the Mercedes dealer. |