ATW Retro-blog: 1997-06-10 (Day#22)
Tomtor (RU) – Zuryanka (UESU – RU)
272nm; 2h35; Cowan (962) / Purchase (833)
Zuryanka (RU) – Cherskiiy (UESS – RU)
309nm; 2h45; Purchase (833) / Hughes (962)
Without dwelling too long on the topic, the single loo was provisioned with a paper-back novel for obvious use, from which the locals were considerate enough to remove pages from the back; the team reasoned that this was because no-one would wish to be using the facility long enough to finish the book!
No food for breakfast, so a long drink of orange-flavoured water. Over marshy and wooded terrain to Zuryanka, only to find the airfield closed due to spring thaw flooding and the satellite field, imaginatively called ‘Zuryanka 9km strip’ (it being 9 km from the primary field) being the necessary destination. Even ‘Z9’ had muddy areas, though the runway seemed firm enough. Refuelling was delayed until the commercially-operated AN-24s had been serviced, but then on to Cherskiiy, with the trees beneath them dwindling and areas of snow and ice increasing.
Whilst awaiting their fuel at ‘Z9’ the team were witness to a fully-loaded AN-24 going off the taxiway and becoming bogged-down in mud. A truck was used to attach a steel hawser to the undercarriage leg and simply haul the plane back onto the taxiway, whereupon it continued its progression to the runway and departed. [Wouldn’t have happened like that with an F-27, would it, Rod?]
Things were initially a little tense on arrival at Cherskiiy, with many security personnel showing concern at the arrival of the foreigners, presumably because of the predominantly military nature of the airfield. Despite having been in country for two weeks customs forms were required and a 'consent to remain overnight' was produced. Eventually relationships warmed a little.
Delapidated buildings in the town and further expense just getting food for the team, paying about five times the cost of similar produce back in the UK.
Zuryanka 9 km strip – perhaps that is ‘the’ AN-24??
Increasingly rugged terrain as the route progressed NE across the Siberian wastes [sound dramatic, eh?]
All smiles after initial suspicion on the team’s arrival at Cherskiiy.
The team’s Cherskiiy accommodation – a three-bedroomed apartment in one of the more salubrious parts of town.
Day 22: Tomtor-UESU-UESS 581 nm, 5.33 hrs, GS 109 kts. Cumulative 6111 nm, 63.01 hrs, Average GS 97 kts.
No longer close to the Great Circle!
