Saturday 30 July where do I begin Thursday night we stayed in a rather tired hotel Aqtobe which is in Kazakastan we arrived in good time to have a shower/ bath in the smallest bath you have seen I think Neil booked us into the dwarfs room as my bed was not much over 5 feet long. We had a relaxing meal in the hotel grounds with the waitress using her voice activated translator to help with translations an interesting departure which did not go down well with Luddite Neil who poo poos most modern aids to life, perhaps that's why we have his old scout compass in the glove box.
I was determined to get an early start and was really pleased when we left the hotel
before 9:00 and did it with seconds to spare, a quick photo by the mosque and we were off. Neil and I take it turn driving and normally drive for about two hours before we change over, no matter who drove last the night before we alternate who starts each day. Thursday was my turn to start and as we proceeded merrily on our way........ Well officer it was like this I was proceeding in a easterly direction was I observed a stop sign I clearly saw the stop sign but below it was a plate with a distance so I presumed it was a junction around the corner no around the corner discreetly hidden was a police officer with a ginormous hat which would have kept his shoulder dry in a shower, who waved us to stop, now I have not told you this yet but we have been stopped probably half a dozen times so far, and have gotten into the drill of shaking hands and introducing myself, first impressions and all that, I then look at their number displayed on their badge and can normally remember someone with a similar number that I have worked with, this throws them and so we explain and normally when I produce an old police badge taken off one of my cast uniforms and my International Police badge it breaks the ice, and we normally leave shaking hand or fists. Not this time "passport" I was then marched around the corner to be shown the sign again, my protestations about the sign and lack of line when unheeded, and I noticed that all the locals drove up to the sign, which was situation about 20 metres back from the junction, stopped and then moved off up to the junction and in one case pulling out in front of another car, that was alright he had stopped at the line. I was then marched to a equally hidden police car, and spoke to mr really unfriendly, who was busy writing out what I presume was a ticket for someone else, my passport was thrown on the dashboard of the car and the driver who was sat with a Kalashnikov between his knees had a one way conversation with me, I thought about what a naughty boy I had been, he even showed me the video camera that was recording the junction. After a longer one way conversation I was summonsed to sit in the back seat, and yet another one way conversation went over my head, I am not slow normally but it then dawned on me that there was a monetary penalty involved here even though I was a policeman , no matter what I said my passport stayed on the dash board but like a chest piece was slowly moved further away from me . As much as it sticks in my throat I eventually took about a not which was valued about £5:00 and proceeded to give it to him, but no he would not touch it, he just waved his hand as if leave it on the seat, no matter what I did there was a wave to leave it on the seat, which I did , as soon as it touched the seat, my passport miraculously was handed back and I was waved away. I could peach all day about police corruption all I can say in thirty years in the JOB I never saw sight or sign. Anyway financial penalty payed we were released on our way. I am afraid the the officers reminded me of some of those that I worked with Numbers numbers number stop being bitchy Kemp, get on with what happened next.
Well Neil had a hankering of going down a yellow road between Qandiaghash and Aral to anyone thinking of doing the same, don't well not until the build a road, things started bad and just went worse, we had stopped at a nice service station to fuel and I bought some grease to repack the rehabs which had started winding a bit I also noticed that the right tyre was scrubbing the inner arch so set about it with a hammer realigning I think is the technical term. Serviced done we swapped drivers and Neil was in the hot seat my job was navigating and resting, only one of which I could do as at a time so choose resting we had traveled about 50 km when in my slumber I noticed my leg getting burnt, now I will not bore you with to much just the facts going East sun is on the right driver gets burnt( right hand drive car) my knee should not be getting burnt sue enough we were on the wrong road and heading the wrong way, there was nothing else for it to turn around an get it right, so probably two hours later we are back were we serviced the car, taking a right where we went straight on. Now the main roads are not that good here but this road got worse and worse and dare I say it worse, our original plan of staying in Aral went by the board at at 7 pm when descion were to be made we pulled of the " road into a village where Neil hoped to find a bar and hotel, there was not even a road to this place we drove across the wasteland to get there and believe me there was nothing there, ok there was a magazine which I think is some time and beard in someone's shed, Neil looked pleased with his bag of biscuits/bread and bottle of " milk" no beer and no where to stop, now Neil's thought making process is not to make one unless you have to which I admire it gives him that payed back approach, BUT it's not that good when your looking for somewhere to sleep, more of which later.
Now I should update you on Kevin or as we have started calling her Katie, (sorry Katie Kemp) Because Kevin did not fit her temperament, she I am afraid has been a right swine, barely a day has gone by when I have not had the tool box out, the scrapping on the back wheel has got so bad it's really marking the wheel so at some time I had to take the wheel off and realign the back arch a little more with a Daghenham screwdriver, for those not in the trade that's a BIG hammer, I will try and get some photos on the web site.
Whilst doing up the wheel it I found the culprit the offside,drivers side shocker was on its way out it was not leaking but there was very little resistance so we moved the kit around again and did yet more lightening gone was Neil's bottle of cider, left on the road for some thirsty traveller.
No sooner had we moved off when Katie stopped dead with a very suspicious back firing/rattle. This was something else something a it more serious I tried to start her and she was as dead as the proverbial, I checked all the wiring this was my worse fears have no idea about electronic ignition or all the other bits and bobs that Katie fitted I tried to look as I knew what I was doing and tried it again nothing so I took a plug lead off and tried a spare plug which I had brought to see if there was a spark with one plug lead off Neil turned the car over and low and behold she started ok only on three BUT SHE STARTED, I told Neil to turn it off and quickly replaced the lead and she started running like she always has, tools away bonnet slammed shut and she stopped dead obviously caused by the bonnet but how? Again I checked all the leads tried her again nothing when fiddling about with the fuse able link she fired up and run ok found the problem when I looked the terminals were green with corrosion which called for a bit of vinegar to clean then, no vinegar but lemon juice would do and Neil had some so I soon cleaned the terminals put them back in pleased with finding the problem turned the key, nothing bloody nothing, bloody car every time I think I have sorted the problem it's not that.
Then for no apparent reason she started and ran like a sewing machine. As we were packing up, now you have to remember we are in the middle of Kazakhstan on a Friday night, so a breakdown pulled up. Now what could I tell him bearing in mind I do not speak the language " it stopped but it's ok now" the answer was to keep going keep him behind us and hope that if we broke down again we could grab him.
Now somehow the roads got w
I was determined to get an early start and was really pleased when we left the hotel
before 9:00 and did it with seconds to spare, a quick photo by the mosque and we were off. Neil and I take it turn driving and normally drive for about two hours before we change over, no matter who drove last the night before we alternate who starts each day. Thursday was my turn to start and as we proceeded merrily on our way........ Well officer it was like this I was proceeding in a easterly direction was I observed a stop sign I clearly saw the stop sign but below it was a plate with a distance so I presumed it was a junction around the corner no around the corner discreetly hidden was a police officer with a ginormous hat which would have kept his shoulder dry in a shower, who waved us to stop, now I have not told you this yet but we have been stopped probably half a dozen times so far, and have gotten into the drill of shaking hands and introducing myself, first impressions and all that, I then look at their number displayed on their badge and can normally remember someone with a similar number that I have worked with, this throws them and so we explain and normally when I produce an old police badge taken off one of my cast uniforms and my International Police badge it breaks the ice, and we normally leave shaking hand or fists. Not this time "passport" I was then marched around the corner to be shown the sign again, my protestations about the sign and lack of line when unheeded, and I noticed that all the locals drove up to the sign, which was situation about 20 metres back from the junction, stopped and then moved off up to the junction and in one case pulling out in front of another car, that was alright he had stopped at the line. I was then marched to a equally hidden police car, and spoke to mr really unfriendly, who was busy writing out what I presume was a ticket for someone else, my passport was thrown on the dashboard of the car and the driver who was sat with a Kalashnikov between his knees had a one way conversation with me, I thought about what a naughty boy I had been, he even showed me the video camera that was recording the junction. After a longer one way conversation I was summonsed to sit in the back seat, and yet another one way conversation went over my head, I am not slow normally but it then dawned on me that there was a monetary penalty involved here even though I was a policeman , no matter what I said my passport stayed on the dash board but like a chest piece was slowly moved further away from me . As much as it sticks in my throat I eventually took about a not which was valued about £5:00 and proceeded to give it to him, but no he would not touch it, he just waved his hand as if leave it on the seat, no matter what I did there was a wave to leave it on the seat, which I did , as soon as it touched the seat, my passport miraculously was handed back and I was waved away. I could peach all day about police corruption all I can say in thirty years in the JOB I never saw sight or sign. Anyway financial penalty payed we were released on our way. I am afraid the the officers reminded me of some of those that I worked with Numbers numbers number stop being bitchy Kemp, get on with what happened next.
Well Neil had a hankering of going down a yellow road between Qandiaghash and Aral to anyone thinking of doing the same, don't well not until the build a road, things started bad and just went worse, we had stopped at a nice service station to fuel and I bought some grease to repack the rehabs which had started winding a bit I also noticed that the right tyre was scrubbing the inner arch so set about it with a hammer realigning I think is the technical term. Serviced done we swapped drivers and Neil was in the hot seat my job was navigating and resting, only one of which I could do as at a time so choose resting we had traveled about 50 km when in my slumber I noticed my leg getting burnt, now I will not bore you with to much just the facts going East sun is on the right driver gets burnt( right hand drive car) my knee should not be getting burnt sue enough we were on the wrong road and heading the wrong way, there was nothing else for it to turn around an get it right, so probably two hours later we are back were we serviced the car, taking a right where we went straight on. Now the main roads are not that good here but this road got worse and worse and dare I say it worse, our original plan of staying in Aral went by the board at at 7 pm when descion were to be made we pulled of the " road into a village where Neil hoped to find a bar and hotel, there was not even a road to this place we drove across the wasteland to get there and believe me there was nothing there, ok there was a magazine which I think is some time and beard in someone's shed, Neil looked pleased with his bag of biscuits/bread and bottle of " milk" no beer and no where to stop, now Neil's thought making process is not to make one unless you have to which I admire it gives him that payed back approach, BUT it's not that good when your looking for somewhere to sleep, more of which later.
Now I should update you on Kevin or as we have started calling her Katie, (sorry Katie Kemp) Because Kevin did not fit her temperament, she I am afraid has been a right swine, barely a day has gone by when I have not had the tool box out, the scrapping on the back wheel has got so bad it's really marking the wheel so at some time I had to take the wheel off and realign the back arch a little more with a Daghenham screwdriver, for those not in the trade that's a BIG hammer, I will try and get some photos on the web site.
Whilst doing up the wheel it I found the culprit the offside,drivers side shocker was on its way out it was not leaking but there was very little resistance so we moved the kit around again and did yet more lightening gone was Neil's bottle of cider, left on the road for some thirsty traveller.
No sooner had we moved off when Katie stopped dead with a very suspicious back firing/rattle. This was something else something a it more serious I tried to start her and she was as dead as the proverbial, I checked all the wiring this was my worse fears have no idea about electronic ignition or all the other bits and bobs that Katie fitted I tried to look as I knew what I was doing and tried it again nothing so I took a plug lead off and tried a spare plug which I had brought to see if there was a spark with one plug lead off Neil turned the car over and low and behold she started ok only on three BUT SHE STARTED, I told Neil to turn it off and quickly replaced the lead and she started running like she always has, tools away bonnet slammed shut and she stopped dead obviously caused by the bonnet but how? Again I checked all the leads tried her again nothing when fiddling about with the fuse able link she fired up and run ok found the problem when I looked the terminals were green with corrosion which called for a bit of vinegar to clean then, no vinegar but lemon juice would do and Neil had some so I soon cleaned the terminals put them back in pleased with finding the problem turned the key, nothing bloody nothing, bloody car every time I think I have sorted the problem it's not that.
Then for no apparent reason she started and ran like a sewing machine. As we were packing up, now you have to remember we are in the middle of Kazakhstan on a Friday night, so a breakdown pulled up. Now what could I tell him bearing in mind I do not speak the language " it stopped but it's ok now" the answer was to keep going keep him behind us and hope that if we broke down again we could grab him.
Now somehow the roads got w
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