we have reached tyumen and found some lovely toilets.

every night lewis insists on catching insects. his parents condone animal cruelty by making no attempts to prevent him. last night's green spider has been the highlight of the trip to date.

we were going to sleep in a hotel last night but, in the end, decided that the side of the road would be better. however, i am still holding out for a hotel in omsk (mid siberia), where we will hopefully stop for a rest.

siberia is so far proving to be very flat but the whole camp feels excited at the prospect of traveling through such an exotic region. at the same time we are being wary of ticks that we a told are rife during this season by our lonely planet guide book.

we are on track so far and making sufficient time.