Not much backdated

I have returned from a small trip. A group of us tried walking 90 kilometers to Baravoe, which is a resort town about 300k south of Petro. We were initially successful and it was enjoyable to walk across the steppe. On our way south, however, we began to hit agricultural areas that went on for miles and miles. There were roads around most of the fields, but it was less enjoyable to walk on a dirt road between fields of sunflowers or wheat than it was across the open steppe. We also had some trouble with blisters which afflicted part of our group and we accidentally wandered off our map because the roads went around the fields, which put us half a day behind schedule and caused some water-related problems. In the end we only ended up walking for a day and a half, or about 40k, before taking a bus the rest of the way. We then camped on the beach for two days in Baravoe, which is very beautiful. Our last night we had two groups of random visitors at 9 and 10 pm. The first guy was some Russian who comes regularly to Baravoe, and who brought a bottle of cognac with him to our fire. The second group brought smoked fish and sat silently for a while. It was a good trip, and we may do something like it again next year.

Next week I'm going to go to school and try and start some classes, and get back on track with studying Russian. Other than that not much is happening, though earlier this week a guy wandered through who is updating the Lonely Planet guide to Central Asia. I didn't get to meet him, nor have I heard anything from those who may have, but it is unusual.

I hope you are all doing well as another August wends to its end.