Russia, The Altai Republic.

At the main entry post on the Russian side of the Mongolian Russian frontier. It was an easy one to go through, but with the usual loads of paperwork.
The first major town in the Russian Altai Republic, Kosh Agach, the driest inhabited place in the Russian Federation. Members of the Kazakh minority make up most of its population. In the distance, panoramas of perennially snow-topped peaks, through which runs for 400 kilometers or so, the Chuyski Trakt, our route north. The Republic is home to more than 7000 lakes and soaring peaks, including Siberia's highest. It is popular with Russian extreme adventure enthusiasts and new age types.
The directional road sign in the photo points to Novosibirsk, the capital of Siberia, 887 kilometers to the north.
Hotel Transit, our home away from home while in Kosh-Agach, a clean, friendly, funky little place. There was a Russian filming crew staying there.
Simon and Anna, a Russian tourist living in Spain, who comes here often.
Leaving for the north. Finally, great sealed roads.
Lunch stop at a little hamlet, settled in the valley between the mountains.
While stopped for lunch, a group of motorcyclists came by, among them a young German couple who were driving the exact same motorcycle as mine.
The group also included one Irish fellow and three Finns. They were going south into Mongolia and making the circuit to Ulaanbaatar.
Campsite along the Chuya River, Altai Mountains in the background. Beautiful spot!
Russian campers. Camping is very popular in this part of Russia. Most of these tourists come down from Barnaul and Novosibirsk, Siberian cities to the north.
Street scene from Barnaul, a pleasant industrial city of half a million people. The vast majority of the people are ethnic Russians. Friendly, clean and well run city.
Russian fast food restaurant serving bliny (leavened buckwheat pancakes) with a choice of stuffings, Barnaul. Good food!
The road west out of Barnaul over rolling farmland towards the Kazakh border. The land in this part of Siberia is covered with grain and dairy farms.
A crop of sunflowers by the roadside.
At the Border, Kazakh side, buying insurance. We are on our way down through Kazakhstan.

A- Mongolian-Russian border, B-Barnaul Altai, C-Kazakh border N.E. of Semy Kazakhstan. 1000 kms..