Siberia 2012 story so far

Brilliant ride report but I'm still not jealous :nenau



Whens the homecoming party cant wait to tell ye what happened when i went to tesco tudderday :augie
 
4th September 2012
Great day today, weather held out and we picked the much quieter of the 2 possible routes which brought us along the Volga river! We stopped for some salianka for lunch in one of the many roadside cafe's and had a good laugh with the two women running it. About an hour from Saratov we needed fuel so once bikes were full I bought mark and I a twix which we ate standing on the petrol station for court, whilst we were standing there the guy from the station brought us out 4 rolls which we ate and were very tasty when we went in to thank him and his mother they made us tea and put a bowel of grapes in front of us! The generosity and helpfulness we have found here is amazing, Russian people are great! Had to take the injector out again today to give it a clean, I think we are just pushing the dirt around in it but it seems to last longer each time before clogging up!

5th September 2012
This is our last day in Russia we’ll be heading for Kiev in the Ukraine, We have about 850km to do which as I said before is quite tough on an enduro bike. I want my GS back for this part of the journey!
Weather was great today and started off well until the first petrol Station we stopped in was being refurbished which shouldn’t be a problem until the next 3 were also being refurbished or closed, eventually I ran out but as marks safari tank holds 5 more ltrs so we split that and thankfully the next petrol station although closed for lunch was open!
We stopped for lunch in another roadside café and again had a good laugh with the girls while we were trying to decipher the menu.P
Got to the Russian boarder and we were the only ones there again so straight through without to much of a problem, the Ukraine border was a different kettle of fish with the first official asking for a present of money before he gave us the paper we needed and so it went on with the next 2 asking for money as well but we told them their collegues cleaned us out and eventually we got through! This experience left us wondering what problems we’d have with the police if customs are so blatantly corrupt.

6th September 2012
We are travelling from Kiev to L’viv today to meet Mide, 5 eyes and smelly brother, it’s a 600km run but hopefully the last of the mile munching and maybe a bit more sightseeing.
It’s a beautiful sunny hot day when we left the hotel but Just as we reach the outskirts of Kiev the heavens opened up and we were soaked to the skin in seconds, visibility was so bad we had to stop in a café until the worst passed. It rained the whole 600km and at one stage we were riding towards the sunshine and then the road veered off under the black clouds.
We arrived at the hotel at 7pm and Mide, Gary and Ned were waiting outside with a bottle of Champaign to shower us with! (nice touch Gary, Thanks matey!) we had 3 large vodkas then into the shower to warm up before heading out to the Irish pub (Dublin) the rest is a bit of a blur!

7th September 2012
Left L’viv today through the border into Poland then across to Slovakia to meet some friends of Gary’s and a bit of a party!
The border crossing today was the busiest yet with a mile long queue, luckily we were able to shoot down the outside to the front but still took us 2 hours to get through!
The fuel price went up 50% from Russia to the Ukraine and now another jump up to the same price we pay at home, the cheapest we found it in Russia was £0.54 a litre!
Poland and Slovakian roads were great and Gary knew a beautiful route to Bardejov where we were staying, Gary’s friend Lubo sent a taxi for us to bring us to his house where they had laid on loads of great food and drink and the Slovakian poitín of 2 different strengths the weaker one was Slivavica and the stronger one was Sliva fecking vica which blows your head off and makes you pull the same face as Ken when he was drinking Schnapps in the black forest last year!

8th September 2012
Day off the bikes today which is just as well, had to change Mark’s back tire and check over the other bikes.
After the bike repairs we headed out to another friend of Gary’s where once again there was a massive spread of food and Sliva fecking vica for those that wanted it but we gave that a miss, left there about 5 and popped into Lubo’s brother for a cup of tea and again more food put up in front of us! Really nice people here good value for money and great roads means I’ll be back.

9th September 2012
We left Bardejov on the 77 heading for the high Tatras and Spisska bella then the 67 across the mountains and down to the E50 which was a lovely route with great twisty roads and beautiful views. We come across a toboggan run and Míde, Gary, Ned and I had a couple of goes, great craic!! Our destination was Brno and we arrived here around 6pm showered and had a walk around the city centre.
We stayed in a 4 star hotel in the middle of the city and with no secure parking we had to park the bikes up tight to the lobby which looked nice outside this posh hotel, the next day they tried charging us €50 for parking on the pavement with no security! We got them down to €30 but still a bit of a liberty me thinks.

10th September 2012
Left Brno after 5 or 6 breakfasts each from the ‘all you can eat buffet’, heading for Prague via the church of bones in Kutna Hura, we chose the quiet roads which again brought us through some beautiful countryside and charming little villages. It was a great spin to the church of bones and a very interesting place to see apparently the remains of 40,000 people are on display here, they were victims of the plague that were buried in a 3500 square metre grave which they wanted to reduce so dug up all the remains and left them piled up outside the church until a carpenter came a 1870 and started making decorations for the church out of them. The chandelier has every single bone in the human body in it!!
We left the church and headed for Prague where we had our showers then headed out for a walk round the town which ended in another Irish pub for a few pints of Guinness.
 

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11th September 2012
Left Prague hoping to get to Wurzburg but unfortunately Ned’s bike broke down in the middle of a rain storm, the rectifier was gone so Gary and I went off to find a replacement, new battery and/or some distilled water. The first attempt we only got the water and an address of a Honda dealer 20 miles away in the wrong direction, we managed a new battery but no rectifier so Ned had to ride his bike with no lights on through the worst rain I’ve ever ridden and in the dark to where Mark and Mide had sorted accommodation in Thurnau, nice little cheap hotel €30 each including breakfast.
After a shower and warm up we headed out for food and found a little gem of a place called Schleicher’s Bistro, when Marco was explaining the menu he said ‘’I have chicken titties’’ Which started us all laughing and also a night to remember. Marco the owner of the Bistro was a great guy and would have kept serving us as long as we wanted to stay but by 2am we were done.

12th September 2012
A bit worse for wear this morning after we went to Marco’s Bistro in Thurnau, What a great funny guy we were not expecting it to be such a good night but anyone passing through this area should give him a look in! Great food, great prices and a good ole laugh to boot.
We are heading to get Ned’s new rectifier before going on to friends of ours Hienrich and Svenja, in Mechernich Kommern near Cologne Bonn, all motorway stuff again today unfortunately but needs must!
We arrived in Mechernich just before dark and sat eating and drinking until we couldn’t keep our eyes open any longer, another great night though!

13th September 2012

We left Mechernich this morning to head for the Calais ferry we got 50mtrs before Mark got pulled by the police for no number plate, his plate snapped off in Mongolia and this was the first time we were pulled for it. Nice weather again today as we run through Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and France to the ferry port. We are meeting some friends tonight in a curry house in Essex and probably a few beers really looking forward to seeing everyone! Arrived at the Ibis west Thurrock and a welcoming party was waiting for us, Marks Mrs my brother and a few friends so a few quick beers before shower and curry. Mr and Mrs Nomad biker and JackoUk came along for the curry along with another 10 or so friends, it was great to see my daughter Gemma, grandson Louie and Steve as well!
After we got chucked out of the curry house 6 of us headed for Basvegas in Basildon for more drink, Thursday night in the middle of the month isn’t great but we made the most of it heading back to the hotel where Gary and I sat in the bar until the staff wanted to set up breakfast about 5.30 I think! Gonna be painful tomorrow!!!

14th September 2012
Woke this morning with a thumping head so we went off to the local café for a bite to eat to soak up the alcohol, a few of the lads came down so we sat around laughing bout the night before. When we finally felt like we could get on the bikes we headed for Colchester hospital to see a mate Phil who was thrown off his bike 3 days ago and broke his ankle. After we walked Phil back to his car in his wheel chair Gary couldn’t resist having a play in the chair whilst returning it.
So we left Colchester around 5ish up the m11 and a14 heading towards the A5 for tomorrow’s ride to the ferry ,by the time it started getting dark and chilly we were in Rugby so into the premier inn for the night where Gary said to the poor young girl behind reception ‘’you don’t recognise us do you?’’ leaving her guessing and telling everyone in the place and even googling our names, so this morning he left a nice note for her as it was her day off and signed it Dermot O’Neill from Mrs Browns boys.

15th September 2012

We left Rugby this morning to head for the A5 and Holyhead, weather was fantastic and had a nice run through the valleys. When we got to the ferry port we loaded the boat and Ned phoned Gary to see where we were which was when he’d found out he was on the wrong boat! Not sure how that could happen but we’re still laughing bout it now, Ned’s back on the right boat now and we’re sailing home.

Well that’s it we’re nearly home and I would just like to say a BIG THANK YOU to all of you for your Donations to my charity and for your comments (it was great to hear from you all even though I was to sleepy to reply) and following our trip on here, I must apologise for spelling mistakes and punctuation but I’m sure you got the gist of it.
One of the lads from another site I’m on asked me to make a list of equipment I needed and stuff I took which was of little or no use, I will get this done when I unpack and post up asap
Thanks again
Kev
 
Brilliant :bow:bow:bow

What a great adventure ! :clap:clap

Great to see your all home safe, whens the party ?


:hogroast


:beerjug:
 
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I will truly miss this journal. Great ride, Great pics, Great story. HU next year???:augie:augie:augie

Thank you Pete,I appreciate that! :thumb

Brilliant :bow:bow:bow

What a great adventure ! :clap:clap

Great to see your all home safe, whens the party ?


:hogroast


:beerjug:

Thanks Neil, will have to save the party for a bit though! the last 10 days have been a party every day, when 5eyes, smelly brother and Mide turned up in the Ukraine the most dangerous part of the trip began! :beer::friday:jager:beer:
 
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well done kev mark and the gang, great trip and great report looking forward to the full report at the next horizons
 
well done kev mark and the gang, great trip and great report looking forward to the full report at the next horizons

Thanks a mil frank, sure I'll be seeing you ant Clare and Tom's gig! Might be in America for next horizon's :-(
 
Have been absent for a while due to laptop issues. Fantastic trip. Mucho kudos! :bow Glad to see you all made it home ok. :clap
 
That must have been some haircut ! :D

:beerjug:

You should have seen the state of it Neil, I was a stone lighter when I came out! :D

Have been absent for a while due to laptop issues. Fantastic trip. Mucho kudos! :bow Glad to see you all made it home ok. :clap

Thank you Brigid, Trying to re adjust now and get back into the work! Great memories though!:thumb

See you in the Mournes in a couple of weeks Kev. :thumb2

Cant wait Aidan, Im in good practice after the last 9 days of my trip with Gary and Ned! :jager:jager
 
Just catching up Kev and what a fantastic trip and report. I sure there will be some treasured memories and great stories still ahead to be told.

Glad you all arrived home safe and we'll see yous in a couple of weeks

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:thumb
 


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