What a day, it took us 1 hour to travel the 20km to get out of Samara, we had decided not to travel on the main road, M5 but to run parralel with it about 30 km South, close to Khazaksthan. We managed to stay on the back roads but after our lunch stop in Buguruslan things went wrong for Rocky who followed the 2 American KTM’s of Pie and Tex and as a result he paid the penalty and had to do an extra 200km’s.… Read More

We got a short-cut today, in the rain it was muddy, but fun.

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It is now almost Noon in Samara and we still have not got the clearance to leave. Yesterday it took Peems 6 hours to get the insurance as a new regulation came into effect in April where all insurance on older vehicles need a road-worthy certificate, we did not have the 3 exta days to do the roadworthy and Peens used his “lost puppy” look and boyish charm to get the insurances, as a result he almost got a wife in the process (we are still trying to find him a wife and he has been single for 55 years and we fear he will never find a wife.)… Read More

I spent the entire day sitting in the Hotel’s Foyer coordinating our effort to get insurance x 6 vehicles (Peens and Sergi) went off to do this 1 hour task (I did this the last time and it was painful but not more than a hour in St Petersburg.)

The rest waited for Andrew, Dmitry’s friend to arrive who was tasked with taking us to customs to pay and get the new permits.… Read More

Yesterday the KTM guys invited is to join them today for a ride to a festival. I was exspecting a Breakfast-run type of a ride to a restaurant with a vibe. We met at the KTM premises at 09h00.

We started off with about 30 bikes and headed for the city cemtre of Ulan Bator (translated it means Red Worrior, Ulan Ude where we stayed our last night in Russia means Red River.)… Read More

Things has not gone our way so far, yesterday it took us 2 hours to get past Passport Control at Samara Airport. They dont get tourist here and 5 guys arriving  who claim to be tourists was not acceptable, language was major issue and both Sergie and Dimitry were not there to help. After the KGB looking guy gathered all the info and phoned Sergei and checked our story out things slowly started to change, then I started handing out little bead-work Owels and the lady got a necklace and then we were through.… Read More

22 hours after starting this leg we arrived back in Russia and went to the farm where we stored the bikes.But as usual one vehicle would not start and I got the chance to test the new gaddget and we jump started the Toyota.… Read More

as you can see I am having a few problems with doing the posts on my I-Pad, used to the computer and now everything is different, so please be patient, will get the hang of it soon.

last night Dmitry and us with Sergei went for dinner and last night was the World Ice Hockey finals between Canada and Russia, so it was a big night for them even though they lost, but a very interesting learning experience for us.… Read More

It is two days before we leave and it is hectic at work, but I think I now have everything so I am going to start packing, it is just that I doubt all of it would fit. I have to take my replacement Tank Bag and Rain Suite that were stolen on the last Leg in Russia, I was warned about the crime but decided not to take Snowflake, (my KTM as she is white in colour) to the towns secure parking, ( every town has a central secure area where you pay R60-00 per bike per night to park under lights with a guard tower and dogs patrolling with armed guards.)… Read More