6-8 MY BIRTHDAY IN MAKUSHINO

Naturally the sun was shinning and the temperature was a balmy 38 degrees at lunch-time. While Green Car was charging at a truck-repair shop we were sitting in an air-conditioned cafe next door and had a tasty dish of lasagna. One of the nice surprises you suddenly can enjoy. We are out east where there is far between hotels and cafes. So at the end of the day we thought ourselves lucky to find what on the map appeared to be a town. We drove for some time around skirting deep holes, mud and unforgiving heating-tubes crossing the road in the worn-down town domineered by a vast industrial block. It turned out to be a mountain-like grain elevator, fitting the endless wheat-fields. in this god-forsaken town we eventually found Hotel URAL with eight small rooms and a staff of friendly women. They did not think it a problem to let us use a socket for Green Car. After a couple of badly needed showers I dressed in my blue silken dress and high-heeled shoes. Hjalte put on a clean t-shirt and then we were ready to celebrate my birthday with a bottle of sparkling Russian champagne on the bed.