E-22, This is all we have seen over the last few days, usually from the window of the van as we move ever further east. The landscape is a mixture of swamp, birch woodland, farmland and is totally flat. We have been very fortunate so far on this run that we have not encountered any real hills yet, I’m sure this will change over the next month or so. Yesterday we drove 330 km to our next hotel here in Omsk, our rest day I may add. Unlike the landscape around us the roads are a long way from being flat, they resemble something like the moon surface, full of craters. This makes for very uncomfortable travelling, with most of our team having more aches and pains from this than the actual running. Most days it is a relief to get out of the van and run.

The problem over these last few days has been the constant fight against the millions of insects who have taken a liking to some fresh blood to feed on. I think they are bored with the local delicacy and prefer some foreign food. "DEET, you must bring a supply with you as it is the only thing that really works", well some one forgot to tell the insects that. The bites aren’t too bad the first day or so, but after this, they become unbelievably itchy, and when you have more body area covered in bites than not it becomes a little annoying.

Food, well we have had both extremes of quality this week. After a night spent in what I think was some kind of free accommodation, I say free because I can’t imagine any one would be brave enough to charge some one to stay there. Our room had the lovely aroma of a porta-loo after being used for a weekend at a music festival and hadn’t been emptied. We weren’t brave enough to turn the light on as we entered the room as we may not have managed our 1 hour of sleep that was achieved that morning. Well back to food, as we were not going to brave breakfast at this place, our guide managed to find a canteen, used by the local students, I won’t say too much other than it was a bonus if you found an area of cup to drink from that was not chipped and mouldy. The other end of the spectrum was a few days later when we stayed a 4 star hotel, the restaurant was magnificent with a great menu. These are the opportunities you use to really fuel up, so plenty of the 4 B’s, brilliant.

For the first time on this adventure 75% of the yellow team decided to have a night out. The old man of the team had an early night with his cocoa and slippers in front of his computer, so he says? So it was up to the younger members of the team to hit the clubs, well, 1 club. Our local guides with there inside knowledge took us to the ‘in place’. Yes if you are 16-20. So after a few beers we entertained the local youths with our own version of club dancing. Good fun was had by all.

Hope everyone at T in the Park is having a great time.

Now onto the 3.00am- 9.00am shift, oh lovely.