Lake Baikal...

We have washed up on the shores of Lake Baikal, on the Northern, less visited (hillbilly) end of the lake.

Damn is it quiet, and is it ever isolated. The lake is surrounded by ice capped mountains, and the trees are only just now starting to bud - Spring is just about to spring.

We arrived today via Krasnoyarsk, after a mere 26 hours on the train. This time, we went 'kupe' or second class, so we had a cabin with four beds, better mattresses, and after I kicked out a baba trying to freeload up a class, we had the whole room to ourselves! It was great, a real change after the 57 hours in third class from Moscow to Tomsk.

We are having some serious language and communication issues, mostly because the Russians in their inimitable dour, sour, stony way just love to say NYET NYET NYET. We 'think' we should be able to get a ticket out of here to Tynda tomorrow or the next day.

We are still 4 days straight travel to Vladivostock, and our visas end June 2 so we have to pick up our skirts and fly...

Otherwise, I think we would both be happy to just spent a week or two hanging out by this lake.

Imagine. 20% of the world's fresh water in one lake. I can't wait to pee in it.