Sat 7 June 560 k to Kemerovo

Another 500k plus day to a city in the wilderness of Russia. It started wild and windy in overcast but not wet conditions. As the day improved so did the roads and the landscape and even the city was pretty decent by comparision.
The roads again lined by birch trees masses of them, were very pretty. The countryside and the villages are the better places to be. The cities, are like cities everywhere, boring dirty and the same.
Roadside lunches are pretty good thanks to our riding mate Tom. He spent some time in Moscow so has translation duties which he handles with good grace, because it must be a nuisance taking over as nanny to a bunch of riders essentially abandoned in Russia. (Abandoned is perhaps a little strong as they did book the hotels and provide a Russian guide in a van).
The city was good and the hotel fine. We were entertained by a wedding in the Hotel. The custom is to place money down the front of the brides dress ( and it would have held a lot) in exchange for a kiss. Interesting custom but our hosts were generous and gracious. Our guides took it as a chance to make a self promotional speech which I am sure the guests are still bewildered about. Who were those people ?
Our Russian guide showed his skill later as we discovered a nightclub. I am not an expert in these places but it did remind me of a visit I made to a similar place in Berlin in 1965. Huge, inceridbly noisy, lots of flashing lights, beer and the inevitable, what am I doing here ?
nzl07