Chita Russia

Sorry for the blackout but we have been out of range of just about everything. We have just rolled into a large town called Chita .

It could be the end of the line as we lose our backup vehicle and have to go on alone.

This is a bit scary as we are running out of time and have to be at Irkuts by the 18th and can’t afford to stuff up.

It may be just Andy and I who head off unsupported as Fred is not keen on the idea. Will let you know how it ramps out tomorrow. Unlikely to get internet before Irkuts.

Arthur.
(by SMS)

At present we have arrives at a town called Blagoveshohensk after 4 very long days from Khabarousk ( a very large city jst before you head off into the bad lands of eastern Russia .

The bad lands are not as bad as they were reported to us prior but were certainly desolate with little hope of much assistance except for the ever watchful eyes of the biker community over here. It is quite amazing the network that is always ready to lend a hand, one which wihtout we would be even further behind than we are. Despite its desolation there are patches af real beauty and for the first time saw huge tracks of land under serious cultivation of wheat and barley.

Many ongoing problems with the bikes (and bodies), the bikes hopfully we are sorting out but realistically it is only a matter of time before at least one of the bikes fails to such an extent that we have no choice but t abondon it. The poisened bodies on the oher hand will recover but not after a few days of missery. Andy and I were unintentionally poisened by the professor with a peice of sausage we should have refused.

Andrew and I in our state of bodily weekness sought the refuge of a hotel on Blagoveshchensk last night so we could be near a toilet (not a hole in the ground) and a place to sleep without the ongoing partying of the local motorcycle Club where we are staying.

Thats all I have itme for as Andy used up most of the internet time and we really do have to get back on the road ofter yet another day of inaction.

Thanks and talk soon.

Arthur.

Photos Between Khabarousk – Birabidzhan – Blagoveschensk

Good Soviet car.

Showering on the road. You should have smelt him before.

Not happy Fred

Good Russian dort road.

Bit of rain (finished off Arthur’s bike)

Not bad if you can get it.

Clean and tidy as usual

Our fearles leader waits for the rest.

On the road again

After negatiating the Russian Beaurocracy and getting translations of our Australian drivers licences we finally left Ussuriysk at around 5pm and set off north. Free at last again on Russian roads Andrew and I on the mighty Urals and Fred on his trusty Planet. Lovely while it lasted but it wasnt long before Russia had it’s way again. Not in the form of paper work or over zealous police, not one of the Urals having it’s evil way with us. No Fred’s so reliable Red Planet decided it was its turn to show us that Russian engenering will always beat opportunistic westeners. Three hours of groveling on the side of a busy dusty road with the occasional help of a willing Russian biker strangers we finaly conceded defeat and towed the planet the 20 kms back to the Iron Tigers club house. Tails between our legs we sought their gracious help once agian. They think we are quite mad attempting riding anywhere on one of their Urals but to actually think we can ride across Russia is for their ammsuement. The club has as full time machanic and his services were called on and he worked through to midnight diagnosing the problem..one dead motor and a complete rebuild needed. This they assured us could be acheived tomorrow after shopping the markets for the parts neccessary, As I write this the Russian lads (they are all young and am sure would be very attractive to you Aussie girls) are downstairs in the workshop hopfully putting the final bits back together. IF it proves unsuccessful and the bike really is dead we will have to abandon it and proceed on the two Urals.

Progress is so very slow and all we wan now is a day when we can ride uninterupted by either bike problems or over hospitable Russian hosts, we simply want a bit of riding.

The photos:

Sadly typical of housing in Eastern Siberia

Iron Tigers MC (club house)

Andy’s patented side stand for Arthurs bike. (you should try using the centre stand on a Ural especially if you are as skinny as Arthur).

The Russian lads who worked on Fred Planet.

The day has finally arrived when we break the ground hog day curse of Eastern Siberia . Every day now for two weeks we have woken up in the same beds to see the same faces to go through the same routine of working on bikes that will never be right and then after it gets dark at 10 pm sit around with Russians drinking vodka till 3am knowing that we are doomed to repeat it over the next day.

No longer. After some serious soul searching and the loss of Duncan due to his committments that no one could garanttee he could meet given we had no idea when and where we would be in two weeks, we now head west.

The last few days have forced us to make difficult decisions including regrouping after the loss of Duncan, the relisation that Urals (at least our Urals) are not bike that one can be relyed on unless you have spent much more time than we had to sort them out and the subsequent abondoning of two of them befor we start. This realisation of the shotcomings of our urals saw us jump at an opportunity to purchase a running Russian Planet motorcycle (two stroke) with side care to suppliment our deminsihing faith that we would have enough bikes to commence the trip.

Yesterday and today saw two serious test runs that have given us the confidence to set out tomorrow.  Andrew on a Ural side car rig, Fred on the Planet and Arthur on a Ural minus side car. Our first day destination is Vladavostok 200 km SW of where we are have been staying outside of Nakhodka. From there we head  700 km N to  Khabarovsk before turning W through Siberia .

Now all is ready we are about to be pampered with a hot bath a Russian bath house. The thought of big Igor and his birch sprigs is a little concering but maybe they are pulling our legs.

We have made some wonderful friends while morooned here some that we will most certainly be maintained. We have also developed attribtes that will be useful next time we find ourselves in a completely powerless situation.

Thanks for being patient with us for we feel like we are letting down all those who have given up a lot for the sake of this adventure. Once on the road I hope internet access might be a little more accessable mainly due to us not being beholden to aur guests for transport.

I am right now being hastled to return as we are being taken out to the bath house. Tough really.

Will send photos tonight.

Arthur.