London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 22 – 18 September 2016
Giving Kontiki a Well-Deserved Spa Day
After the excitement and hospitality of Astana, we decided to take things a little easier today. Not every day on an overland expedition needs to be a marathon drive, and after several long days behind the wheel, Team Kontiki was happy to enjoy a more relaxed schedule.
We eventually left Astana at around midday and headed south-east towards the town of Temirtau, covering approximately 150 miles during the afternoon.
The roads were reasonably good, and the drive was uneventful, giving us plenty of time to admire the vast open landscapes of Kazakhstan. The country seems endless, with huge skies, wide horizons, and open spaces stretching in every direction.
Our main mission for the day, however, was not simply to drive.
After thousands of miles through Europe, Russia, and Kazakhstan, our faithful old Kontiki was looking rather dusty and road-weary. We felt she deserved a proper clean after carrying us all this way without complaint.
Once we reached Temirtau, we began searching for a suitable vehicle wash. What sounded like a simple task soon turned into an unexpected adventure. We spent almost an hour asking local people for directions and driving around the town looking for a facility large enough to accommodate a 22-year-old motorhome.
Everyone seemed eager to help, but finding a wash suitable for a vehicle of Kontiki’s size proved surprisingly difficult.
Eventually, after several unsuccessful attempts, we admitted defeat and headed towards a filling station where we planned to spend the night.
As often happens during travel, luck intervened at exactly the right moment.
The staff at the filling station kindly agreed that we could stay overnight, but they also told us about a camping area located only two kilometres away. Even better, they mentioned that it had facilities for larger vehicles.
Off we went.
To our delight, not only did the campsite have space for us, but it also had a truck wash capable of handling large vehicles. Finally, Kontiki received the attention she deserved.
After a thorough wash, she looked magnificent.
The dust and grime of thousands of kilometres disappeared, revealing a gleaming motorhome once again. Seeing her clean and shining brought smiles to all our faces. It is amazing how attached you become to a vehicle when it is carrying your home, your belongings, and your dreams across continents.
The campsite itself was fairly basic and certainly not luxurious, but it provided everything we needed—secure parking, showers, toilets, and vehicle washing facilities.
For approximately £10, we received overnight parking, use of the facilities, and a complete wash for the motorhome.
We considered that excellent value.
With the practical matters taken care of, it was time for Team Kontiki’s favourite evening ritual.
Out came the cold beers.
Meanwhile, Ramesh once again transformed our motorhome kitchen into a miniature restaurant. Tonight’s menu featured a delicious chicken curry accompanied by rice and freshly made rotis. After a relaxed day and a successful mission to restore Kontiki’s appearance, the meal tasted particularly good.
As the sun set over the Kazakh steppe, we sat together enjoying our food and reflecting on how far we had travelled. Our motorhome was clean, running beautifully, and the gearbox problems that had worried us so much in Berlin now seemed a distant memory.
Tomorrow’s destination would be Lake Balkhash, approximately 240 miles away. One of the largest lakes in the world, it was a place we had been looking forward to seeing for some time.
If all went well, we hoped to reach it by evening.
For now, though, we were content to relax, enjoy our beers, and admire a freshly washed Kontiki standing proudly beside us.
Distance travelled: Approximately 150 miles (240 km)
Route: Astana to Temirtau, Kazakhstan
Night halt: Basic campsite near Temirtau
Cost: Approximately £10 including parking, showers, toilets, and vehicle wash
Highlight of the day: Giving Kontiki a thorough wash and seeing her gleaming once again
Dinner: Chicken curry, rice, and rotis
Mood of the day: Relaxed, content, and ready for the journey to Lake Balkhash
Join us tomorrow as Team Kontiki heads deeper into Kazakhstan towards the vast waters of Lake Balkhash, continuing our unforgettable road journey from London to Mumbai.
