The drive to Ishevsk

First to Chelny to cross the Kama river and head north. Through birch forests, looks like Alaska driving through these. Many cars are stopped alongside the road, out to gather mushrooms. I remember a bicycle ride I took with my cousins in North Germany. They had to stop along the way to gather mushrooms. Apparently a traditional Russian thing to do.

Now out of the forests into the rolling hills and farmlands. I've been on this trip many times. In eastern Nebraska, Ohio, Indiana, many places in the U.S. Wheat fields, mile upon mile of planted rows of pine trees for windbreaks. Many of our American farmers came from here, why shouldn't they do the same things in the states that they did here?

This road is sooo bouncy, no shocks in this van, will my spleen survive this? A two lane strip of asphalt with no shoulder, right through the villages. There are traditional log houses with their white window frames of ornamental carved wood. Women are carrying water from the wells.

Finally back into the forests, now crossing into Uudmert from Tatarstan. More fir and pine trees now, fewer birch trees.

On the way back, we take the main highway. No villages, but this is still not exactly the autobahn. Two lanes, pot holes. We stop at the truck stop gastinista (hotel) for the driver to eat. It's Ramadan, he is muslim, and it's sunset. He hasn't eaten all day and must break his fast. The truck stop is clean and lively. I wouldn't want to be a trucker here though. Imagine going cross-country in this huge place with 10 time zones. It would take weeks.