Evicted from Kazakhstan today because our visas don't start yet. This will be a problem when Homeland Security ask me ,"Have you ever been refused entry to another country?" I will have to tick the box that says YES.

We left Russia near the Kurgan border and it was bitterly cold as we reached the customs post. We were waved through Russia and drove 200 meters of no-mans-land to Kazakstan.

All was well.
Delightful customs people asked where we were going and where we were going. Everyone laughs when we say Vladivostok. No one else goes there. I suppose they wonder,"Why would two pensioners from the rich West go to that hell-hole?" It baffles them.

There is much telephone-ringing by the visa control guard, head shaking and tutting.
Our visas start on June 1st. Two days time. Our visas are not valid yet.

A young chap that speaks English comes down from. his office and says they are telephoning The Boss.
The answer is NO as camouflage army types with guns arrive and take us to an office to fill in paperwork. Success! We are in Kazakstan!

Sam celebrates arriving in Kazakhstan- prematurely.

The well-dressed English speaking chap comes back in his well-tailored double-breasted jacket with turned over cuffs to say,"You follow me please back to Russia"
And so the Jose Mourino of customs officials escorts us back across the border. As Arnie said,"We will be back"