Riding from Zhezqazghan to Astana and Camping in the Steppe

After redoing the patch using ABRO metal epoxy which was the nearest, I could get to JB Weld epoxy type, a big sandstorm hit Zhezqazghan so in a way it was a blessing in disguise for if I had pushed on the journey I would have been caught in the crazy winds full of sand.

Instead of test riding Bragge 2 hours later, due to the sandstorm I just let the bike sit and the epoxy cure for a good 24 hours. The next morning after loading the bike and making a small prayer, I hit the road directly for Zarnaka onwards to Karagandy. Zhoshi Khan Mausoleum was a skip this time for I did not want to have a repeat de-ja-vu.

Riding Through the Steppe from Zhezqazghan to Zanarka to Karagandy 

I resisted checking the tank for leaks every 10km and rode with average speed through mediocre bumpy roads through the vast steppe grassland scenery. At the first water break around 50km, the epoxy was holding good. At this point my internal mantra was, if it could last 50km it can last 5000km.

Zhezqazghan to Karagandy was a good 550km so with average road this was really not possible to do in a single day. I would have to really push the bike and ride pass sunset to get to Karagandy on the same day so I decided to camp somewhere past 350km mark near Zarnaka looking for that sweet spot.

Looked like a good sign for a Camp spot

Camping in the Steppe near Zanarka

Campsite was just off the main road with trees behind to block the view of vehicles and it was a new experience camping in the vast open field. No fear of bears this time but with my current set up, there was no chance of camping few days in a row for there is no shade for mid-day sun and no place to hide if there was a storm.

I woke up the next morning to gloomy weather and slight rain. It was cold very fast at night and the gloomy weather in the morning did not abate for the whole day. I packed up tent in the cold then started riding again trying to decide if today would be to Karagandy or to Astana. It was either a 200km run or a 400km run.

I had to double back to Karagandy from Astana anyway a few days later so it was not really a skipping altogether but just postponement hence I did not really decide till I reached Karagandy. 

Weather was shit forcing me to unpack the winter riding pants and layer up with raincoat just to push on through the rain. There was no shelter for anyone along the road and cresting a small hill one could see the road extending to the horizon with no establishment or structures around.

The precious Rainbow

A little rain does bring a beautiful rainbow which I enjoyed for a moment. By the time I reached Karagandy, it was only 1pm in the afternoon. Weather was still gloomy but there were signs that the rain onwards had stopped. Another 200km to Astana and there I knew had cheap good hostels.

I decided to push on and was greeted with lovely smooth exquisite well maintained highway. That balance 200km journey was cruising at 110km/hr instead of the slow 60km/hr for the initial 200km to Karagandy. 

Good Roads from Karagandy to Astana

When I reached Astana and checked into the hostel, a quick check on Bragge Tank told me that the epoxy was holding very well. Nearly a thousand kilometres now since the patch and it was holding. If it can last 1000km it can last 10000km.

Travelled on: Aug 2024