As per routine an early start of the day with the sun shining in the sky with a long riding day in front of us. The hotel owner, a Pavarotti fan, did not charge for the bike parking fees.
It did not come as a surprise the hold up at the Russia check point where we were told that the date on our Byelorussia issued immigration cards are wrong and the only possible way to get hold of a new, correct immigration card was to ride to another Russia border check point 80 km away. When there it took a further 03.00 hours to clear all the formalities including the temporary importation of the bikes.
At long last we were in Russia at 13.00 hours and immediately after the crossing we found out we were at the exact point where Russia, Ukraine and Byelorussia border lines meet a kind of “three corners border” point where you are at a walking distance from the check points of these three nations. We rode through a very green Russia landscape, intensive farming of wheat and potatoes mainly, acceptable roads conditions but, after 770 km at 22.00 hours we had to stop in Elets, it was getting too dark to keep on riding on with the heavy trucks road traffic.
Tomorrow we will arrive in Samara, we have another long ride of 900 km in front of us but not border to cross this time.
The team is performing well and the motivation is to reach Aksai as per plan date.
Today we rode 770 km in 11 hours, for a total of 3024 km in 38 hours since we started our journey.
Leg# 4 : Gomel - Elets 770 km
Better turn to the left
Monument on the 3 borders
Russian church
Break for lunch to recover the stress for borders crossing
14 comments:
DOMINUS VOBICUM. Your determination Success will see you through.
Grande Giak!! tenete duro che siete quasi arrivati!
dai ragazzi che quando arrivate si festeggia!
Hi Colleagues, my mane is Alexey Bryndin i work for KPO at the IT Department. I have just seen you road map. The road condition from Saratov via Ershov and Kamenka vilages to Uralsk is like after war. I propose yo to change it. From Saratov go to Balakovo city, then through Solyanka vilage to Pugachev vilage, then to Ivanteevka, then Znamenskiy then Mar'evka. After Mar'evka turn to the right and go to Pestravka, then Malaya Glushatsa and then to Bolshaya Glushitsa. Then you pass the Bolshaya Glushitsa you will get to road called M32. Turn to the right an go by M32 to Uralsk. I suppose you can check this road map by google map or simple map. this way is 150 KM longer then yours, but road is much better, and sigtseeing more interesting. Have a good trip.
Great innovative recovery on the visa issue. Hope the rest of the trip goes safely.
Sorry it is about 120 km longer. I go there every month. This trip will take 2 hours more than your way.
Alexye , thanks for your suggestion ,. We have already modified. Our plan. we avoid Saratov Today we will arrive to Samara and tomorrow from Samara to Aksay. The road condition should be better.
Enjoy following your progress and wish you well and also hope your journey will end safely with a few cold beers.
How are the bikes performing? any issues with them or are they all performing well?
Regarding your temporary import of bikes into Russia, did you organie any paperwork for this before you left or is it all done at the border point?
Giacomo - approximately what time do you expect to arrive in aksai on Friday 20-June ? If your are staying in Samara tonight then it's about 4-5 hrs to Uralsk the 2 hrs to Aksai. If you depart Samara at 8.00 am, then by my reckoning your Aksai is 3 or 4 pm in the afternoon. As we wish to properly welcome you, can you confirm or amend my timing thoughts above and, tomorrow, let me know when you arrive in Uralsk.
Take care and keep on trucking.
The Cmmander
Giacomo, major part of Samara-Uralsk road is OK. I think you will enjoy it. After Samara there would be a small willage called Pod'em Mihailovka with roadside cafee. If you stop there. Do not order meal made of "fresh" meet, take potato, rice, salad may be sausage.
All the best to you and your friends.
So far so good!
Andrew
Correct this is our plan. We Should be in front of the Office late afternoon , if no problem with the customs
We will call before Aksai
All the Bike are rumnig well so far. The 4 enigma play like an orchestra. All the paper work for temporary importation was done at the border. You cannot do different
Ciao guys! I hope you are all doing well. I wish you 'very' good luck for the rest of your journey and nice weather. You are doing a Great job in support of children in need!
Welcome in Aksai tomorrow!
:-)
Warm regards, Ainur K
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