Lazily played around with my snooze button in the morning know that most of morning was going to be going uphill (what an incentive!). Eventually packed up and started off the morning with a decent 5km climb in moderate headwind.
Got up to the level surface and rode along until the first good descent. Stopped for a 1/2 chicken and macaroni breakfast, broke out my friend, Mr. Water Filter, and filled up the extra 4L of water jugs that Inow carry (for 6.5L in total). 
Made it the last few kms to Bulgulma after some nice uphill climbs. Decided to exchange most of the remaining dollars that I had. The first bank that I went to refused to take them saying that 'they were dirty' - not that they were counterfit, but actually physically dirty. They recommended Ak Bars bank around the corner, which worked like a charm! 
I now have about six days worth of currency left at my current rate of spending! Exciting!Continued riding across the river valleys of the Ural foothills. Had some nice 2-3km climbs of pretty good grade, followed by exciting downhills! Eventually made it to Buvly, a smaller, hilly town after which town/village density started to thin out appreciably. Continued following a river valley along increasingly grassy lands (Beginning to look like the Great Plains). Stopped in a little store and bought tomatoes, bread, cheese and meat for a sandwich dinner, and was given some free delicious kvass to choke it down with. Made it another 25km before stopping beside a dirt road heading east to Bashkortistan. Went down to the Ik River treeline and fought my way through the mosquitos to set up camp. Decided not to put on the fly (cooler!), but a couple hours was forced to dash outside to quickly put it on to prevent the overwhelming amount of rain coming into the tent from the really powerful thunderstorm. Maybe the loudest thunderclaps that I have heard in 5+ years.
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