The last 240km or so from Atrau to the border were not particularly smooth. Half way there were two days of uncharacteristic downpour. The silty dust and dirt turned to thick mud and made it too dangerous to ride. The horses slipped and fell numerous times, as did Tim as he led them on foot! What was worse, this salty soil offered no grass! (not that Tigon really cared because he still got his two cans of meat per day anyway).
Finally the rain cleared after a thick fog and they arrived in the sandy dunes of the 'Narin Kum.' From here it was smoother going to the border near the village of Kotayevka where the Volga Delta begins.
