Irkutsk, 15th August

We had originally wanted to enter Mongolia through the western route, however we were short of time and decided to take the quicker northern route through Siberia. Faster but less interesting or adventurous.  Shame, but that will have to wait till next time.  

We reached Novosibirsk on night one, one of Russia's largest cities, and as you all know, one of the key cities involved in the Russian Civil war in the far-east. We stayed in what looked like quite a nice hotel from the outside, but proved to be what is sadly the norm in provincial Russia: overpriced with terrible Soviet era service.  Hey ho.  At least next door there was a pub/restaurant called 'Beerman' which did exactly what it promised.  With the best food we've had on our trip so far.

The next day so the first clouds and rain we'd had since leaving Europe.  Big two days of driving ahead...

Siberia is vast, vast, vast.  It is however surprisingly beautiful, with a wonderfully varied landscape and some stunning scenery.  Bits of it look curiously like Wiltshire, except for the silver birch trees, and the rural poverty (which looked like something out of the 19th century)

Next up was Krasnovarysk, another big dollop of run down Russia in rural Siberia.  Some great sights (the rocket!) as well as another 'service without a smile' hotel experience.

And finally after the most epic 15.5 hr/650 mile drive over some of the crappiest (and some of the best) roads, we have reached Irkutsk, by the southern shores of Lake Baikal.  And the hotel even sells Irn Bru!  And it is better, to be fair, than anything we've had so far.  And now we are off to the wilds of the foothills of Mongolia and the border.  Two, three days at most till we have finished.  Car is still in great nick, and we haven't wanted to kill each other just yet.  Vorwarts!!!!