Day 148 - Lake Baikal spit to Babushkin To Kabansk - Sun 21 Jul

Day 148 - Lake Baikal spit to Babushkin To Kabansk - Sun 21 Jul 
Magnificent sunrise, but cool overcast morning so went back to bed for a sleep-in, did not depart until 11am to look at 234year old “men's monastery” overlooking spit of land jutting into Lake Baikal. Plenty of churchgoers in scarves and children talking to priest in his black robes. Pictures of Mary and saints in gilt frames, candles and chandeliers, heavy wooden doors – so different from the scary icons in the temples in South East Asia. Veggie and flower gardens - gold stars on turrets. (Guy and Cheryl decided to stay another few hours then bolt to Ulan Ude so they can have their breather tube looked at – they’ll wait for us at border). 

How lucky to have struck Russia in the midst of their short but beautiful summer! Warm sunshine, blue skies and fields of flowers, people cycling or fishing, cows meandering, streams flowing, veggies growing, teens hiking, cottages welcoming...holiday feel to villages, dachas, summer rentals. Drove off highway under railway bridge. Sat on headland enjoying sunshine, making Aussie phonecalls, and watching locals at play. Stunning Russian Mediterranean! So many sunburnt people in bikinis, forced indoors by severe winters they must go overboard when let out to worship the sun. 

Headed to Babushkin found cafe to try Baikal specialty fish, omul (salmon family). Old man came to table to ask the time "before you get drunk" - we were drinking iced tea out of plastic bottles and apparently this is what Russians put their vodka into to drink when they go out! Selling strawberries, vinegar in bottles, golden sour cherries in buckets at side of road. See many younger people assisting elderly eg into vehicles, walking them down street.

Sad to say goodbye to the lovely Lake, but time presses relentlessly on. Camped beside river on outskirts of Kabansk again, watched bushy-tailed gerbil looking carefully in each direction to check he was safe! Jude called on radio, they had Lara repaired and had hot-footed it straight to Lake Baikal and had made it to our picturesque camp on the spit – ah, missed them! Evening stayed warm and light.