Then we were off into Siberia. Larger than the US, it encompasses 8 time zones, is thinly populated with only 25 million people, accounts for the eastern two-thirds of Russia, but has few roads. What roads there may be are mud, gravel, sand, dirt, or mere tracks, but not paved. We hung the food bag in a tree as does anyone camping in bear country, but human 'bears' stole it and two other small bags we had thoughtlessly left outside the tent on the ground cloth. Now, we had no food and would have to live off the land.
Food is scarce in Russia and when available it is unappetizing and bland.
When we reported the theft to the local police at midnight, another person was also there, we thought he was an undercover policeman , but it turned out he was the mayor of a town 100 miles west along our route. He encouraged the local police to call out the blood hounds, which they literally did, but to no avail, especially when they found a cat. He escorted us to his town at four in the morning where he replenished our camping supplies the best he could. So now we were not foodless, Just a little foolish. When one goes on an adventure one likes to take little items to help ease the pain of the harsh journey, such as mosquito replellant.