Active in Russia

In Petropavlovsk, TSH decided to take the adventurous trip to see the volcanoes. The journey to the base of the volcanoes took two hours by 6-wheel drive All Terrain Vehicle. After the road ran out, a short way into the journey, the rest of the time was spent driving up a river bed.

Needless to say, the ride was quite bumpy and the windows were dirty on the outside and steamed up on the inside. TSH had to use some of his supply of tissues to keep drying the window so he could see out. The effort was rewarded by the good views afforded.

TSH noticed that whilst vehicles drive on the right of the road, many of the cars had right hand drive. This is probably due to the number of imported cars on the road. He was told that Petropavlovsk is the second largest city without road access from the outside.

The tour took TSH to the Avachinsky Plateau where the 11,388 foot high snow clad Koryaksky volcano towered up from the plateau.  Also clearly visible was the Avachinsky volcano, which was also covered in snow. These volcanoes are considered to be active but have not erupted since 1896.

After climbing down from the 6-wheel vehicles, guests were invited to use the toilet facilities. These consisted of four small huts about four feet square with a hole in the wooden floor. Toilet paper was provided but because of the location there was no water etc. TSH used a lot of antibac. He later discovered a washing facility in the open air about 100 yards away, where a cold water wash could be achieved.

The 50 or so people who had taken the trip up to the volcanos were then taken on a two hour walk, which rather took TSH by surprise, as it was not included in the tour itinerary. He was further concerned when he discovered that the tour was to be led by a mountain guide. The foreboding increased when people were offered walking poles and then the guide picked up a shovel.

The intrepid (and aged) tourists then set off walking over the volcanic ash, which was relatively easy walking before the reason for the shovel became apparent. It was used to cut steps into the ice when the party crossed an ice filled stream bed. After crossing the small glacier the group then climbed up the bank on the other side and continued their journey up the slopes of a smaller volcano.

After walking up a steep section the guide declared that this was as far as the walk would go in order to be able to return to the base camp for lunch.

Lunch was Russian borsch (vegetable soup with a large bone in it) and vodka followed by a cup of tea and an odd drop more of vodka. TSH followed the instructions issued by Diva before he left and did not eat the salad. Her words were that she would rather he came back drunk from the vodka than ill from food poisoning. In the event TSH suffered neither.

It was then time to visit the wooden hut again before the return journey to the ship.