299 Train around Lake Baikal At 9.30am Nickolay and his wife escorted me to the local train which goes the old way around part of the lake. A strange thing : the train is only one car and full of tourists who have paid $100 for a guided tour. Seems I am included even tho I only paid the $2 for a local train

The trip took 5 hours and we stopped many times for a walk and the guide gave us an explanation in Russian.. I kind of knew what she was saying from what I had read in the museum. To be honest neither the lake nor the old railway was particularly impressive tho the lake is raved about in books. But the tour was interesting to see how the Russians did things.

Back on the train I found I had a tick in my arm. These can carry dangerous diseases. One guide smothered it with oil and teased it out. Then she put it in a film case and instructed me to take it to the lab for analysis.