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We had to make an early start and at 12:40 were well on our way
along the road. There was no bus in this direction, so there was
no option but to walk.
Natasha had said that we would know the lake when we saw it, but we passed a succession of lakes, and there was at times some doubt as to weather we had found the right one, or if we should press on. |
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| At 15:00 our perseverence paid off, and we reached a lake which really was impressive. It turned out to be the result of what looked like an abandoned dam over which our road led. |
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We climbed down into the river bed on the dry side of the dam
wall, and eventually settled on a large rock as the best place
for our picnic lunch.
As you can see from the out of focus forground, this shot was taken (at 15:25) from ground level by placing the camera on the rock and using the timer. |
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| Lena, who ealrier had tried to tell me she was on a diet, caught eating chocolates on toast (15:35). |
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Here I am at 15:58, sitting where the camera was placed earlier, with
the rusting sluice gates of the dam wall visible behind me.
The stange construction above my head seemed to be some form of moveable crane platform for controlling the gates. |
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| Lena was determined to take advantage of the last chance for a swim, and at 16:22 was working her way in. but this was no beach and the sharp rocks on the shore made it rather difficult to walk with bare feet, especially in the shallow water. |
| At 16:28 she had had enough, but getting out was no easier than getting in. |
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| At 20:27, after just missing the earlier bus because we left it too late to leave for the bus stop, we were finally on the bus to the other end of the village where I had been offered the chance to experience a real Russian Banya before our morning departure. |
| At 23:20, freshly banya'd and full of all the tea and food that Russian hospitality demanded, with two of that evenings hostesses. |
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