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At one time I traveled a lot around Russia, visited near and far abroad. I have devoted many years to tourism: I have a badge “For active work in the development of tourism and excursions in the RSFSR.” I remember traveling along the northernmost railway Dudinka — Norilsk and the easternmost along the island of Sakhalin. I visited Japan, “banana-lemon” Singapore and a number of other countries and cities.

Therefore, the words from the song “Happy is he who knows the aching feeling of the road…” are very close to me. My age has long exceeded 80, and today I want to share my observations. What is happiness? Everyone has their own happiness, and it comes to us in different ways.

Sometimes you just need one sip of hot tea — give someone else the whole ocean. The story about this is below. One day, my long-time friend Stanislav and I decided to go to Mamai, it was there that skiers and snowboarders chose a place for skiing (but the area is dangerous for avalanches and you need to keep your eyes open). The forest road, passing a relict grove with centuries-old poplars, led to the mountains.

In the end it turned into a path made in deep snow. Soon we came to a place where the skiers’ tents were already standing. After a three-hour trek I was very thirsty. The guys busy around the fire handed me a mug of hot tea.

And with the first sip, an amazing transformation took place. I smiled, I wanted to move on, I was truly happy! I remember another incident. We skied along the route: Slyudyanka — Khamar-Daban weather station — Devil’s Gate pass — Utulik river.

The length of the route is 110 kilometers, we had three days at our disposal — we had to make it in time! Leaving the Devil’s Gate pass behind us, we stepped onto the ice of the Utulik River. And getting onto the well-worn ski track, we sped up. But yesterday’s snowstorm swept it away in many places.

There were 50 kilometers left to walk to the Utulik railway station. In the evening twilight, having chosen a convenient site on the shore, we set up for the night. Tomorrow is a holiday — March 8th. In our group of 12 people, half are women, and our leader is Lyubov Khmeleva.

At dinner, we congratulate the women on the holiday and give each a tourist gift. It’s warm in the tent, warm and soulful from the presence of our beautiful companions. Naturally, in such conditions, the male half of the group was assigned the modest role of Sherpas. But we also decided not to lose face and took charge of preparing breakfast.

Yes, guys, it was a long time ago, but many episodes were remembered as if they happened just yesterday. When these lines were being written, Vladimir Zharov, a television journalist and experienced traveler, called me. He called from a tent set up on the ice of Lake Baikal. In the area of ​​Baikalsk, he went out on the ice to walk almost 250 ice kilometers alone over two weeks.

Once he walked from Maksimikha to Severobaikalsk, which is over 200 kilometers. There were some oddities along the way. Once a pack of wolves wandered into his camp, another time the tent was almost crushed by a Moskvich lost on the ice. But, despite the difficulties and danger of the hike, Volodya again walks on the ice of Lake Baikal and, judging by his mood, is infinitely happy.

After all, this is his element, he simply cannot do otherwise. Have a nice journey, friend! Well, this is where I’ll finish my story about what happiness is. About myself I will say: happiness for me is that I am surrounded and always supported by old friends.

Thank you, and know that I value your friendship very much.