kayakstan.net :: Day 9 - Karakol
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By the morning, Graham was also feeling dicy, so we decided to head to Karakol to get them showers, real toilets and all the other luxuries we had been missing during the last seven days of wild camping. Those who didn't fancy paddling headed straight for Karakol in one truck, while those who did checked out the two most promising river valleys on the way.
The Chong-Kyrzl-Suu was a little on the low side, although we pushed far enough up the valley to tackle a fast paced km or two in the steeper upper reaches. Djiot Oot in the next valley along was at a more reasonable level, and was another good low-volume creeking run through a multitude of bridges in various stages of disrepair.
We all met up in the evening at one of our driver's pad to be served some 'proper food' - a rather good spread of bread, cabbage soup, cooked meat and tea. Very civilised. set in our skinflint ways, we've shunned the local hostel (it was pretty bad anyhow) and are camping again at the Turkestan site. So no beds, but real toilets and showers at least.