Just back in the Ukraine, about 10 days ago we boarded a freight ship from Alat just outside Baku and set sail for Actau in Kazakhstan, great experience on board , bikes park along side the train carriages . Anyone wishing to do this crossing give me a shout and I. Will give you the low down. It's a long long process getting on and off the ship. But worth it. Then we ride up across Kazakhstan to Russia. This experience is not to exciting, there is nothing in Kazakhstan except sand and camels. There is only one road and it's long and straight. Also very challenging in many places . Some times nothing mores than a mud track. Once in Russia it's much the same for a while then the change starts , greener, hilly, a lot of new roads , some not quite finished , so riding on wet tar. All that said well happy to have done it, met some great people , and the Russian ladies are well fit 
