Round The World 2006

May 27

Rode to a place i can not pronounce and dont have the map wioth me...but it is the big town above where i was yesterday...300km north. Have found a very nice hotel (18pounds)....i have promised myself again that 'this could be the last bit of luxury for a while'. The hotel has efficient check in staff, lift men and everything i need in my room!!! Not down the corridor or outside!!! Currently in a mobile phone shop using their internet after i asked if there was an internet cafe nearby!!!!

May 26 continued

Walked into town and finally found a place that served food....they had microwave pizza.....they were not that good...so i had two!!! Found a good supermarket where i stocked up on dried food...noodles, Smash and other small light stuff....i am totally unsure where i will be able to eat when in Mongolia. I asked for a map of Mongolia at the bookshop...20 minutes later, they decided that one did not exist. I kinda knew this, but it was worth asking! I lost an hour due to time zones, so before i knew it i was tucked up in bed listening to the drunks in the square outside!

Location and status

N51.52303 E081.21489.  ( a good sat image please markt?)

Battery is holding out very well.....unsure if i should change to the other...but i need to loose the weight!!
Tyres - front - like new...not sure it will ever wear out!  Rear is going.....it has a very weird profile (when i can, and i know some of you are looking forwad to it, i will upload a pic of the rear!!).
Panniers - slowly getting knackered...another knock from the drunk car park man this morning.
Beard - ok...might get a trim though.  There are bits where it just wont grow!!
Hair - growing.....although the terrorist look is still strong.  I was asked if i was Pakistani (sp) yesterday!!
Tan - face and back of hands only.
Weight - less than normal...but stable.  Filling up with 3 pizzas so far today...going back for more later.
Tummy - Perfect!
Mind - Good.....but after being checked in by Nana earlier, it was in need of a beer!!
Weather - 25degrees, sunny spells, 15knot westerly.

The Italian pictures

http://www.motorcycling-adventures.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=74

May 26, 2006

Up early - 0700 and ready to go by 0800.....i rode the bike from the car park (where the drunk car park man wanted a ride) to the front of the hotel and went back to my room to get the rest of my kit.

As i walked out of the hotel, a young guy said something to me in Kazakh....not sure what it was, but it did not sound good.  When i got outside, the bike was capsized and resting on the pannier and handlebar.  Of course, it was the drunk guy.  Nothing i could do...there was no damage....a couple of boys helped me right it and i rode out of town.

The ride to the border with Russia become very green and foresty (not sure if that is a word).  Bit like riding through Thetford.  There were even some bends in the road!!!  Arrived at the Kazakh border at 0940...it was easy....only took me 40 minutes to go to a number of windows, smile and get stuff stamped.  I was asked if i had a gun on me...when i said no, the guard was most surprised!!!

The Russian side was also easy....if it was not for the computers crashing, i would have been clear by 1115....as it was, some very helpful people filled out all the russian forms and i was in Russia by 1140.....less than 2 hours after starting!!!

So, back in Russia...the roads are smooth and i am now obeying EVERY road rule!!!!

Arrived in Rubtsovsk at 1200 and soon found a hotel.....but they did not want me...not sure why.  So, i went to another.  The lady behind the counter....she could have been your (definately mine) Nana...a lovely lady, but not cut out for doing things quickly and efficiently.  I watched as she painfully filed out the same forms twice.....slowly called the poice to register me...slowly looked through every stamp in my passport....slowly show her disgust (like she was passport control) at ALL the stamps.  40 minutes later, she announced that she needed a copy of my visa.  I hunted for one in my paperwork, but could not find it.  So, had to walk to a shop to get a copy.  When i returned, she was not happy that there was no photo on the copy!!!  I pointed out to her that there was no photo on the original!!!  The only easy to get around this was to give her a copy of my passport!!!  I paid (5pounds) and as she tore the receipt from the till it ripped in half.....this would not do....she got out the prit stick and glued it all back together........Finally i was allowed a key to the room.   I smile at it now, but stood in all my gear with the bike illegally parked outside, my patience with her was thin!!

May 25, 2006

A lazy day being a man of leisure in Semey....took coffee, lunch, strolled around and generally had a nice time.

Tried to find the source of the 'tinkling' from my front forks.....can not find it....i think it may be the brake pads, but it does not stop when i brake.....so could it be the brake pad sensor?  Who knows, i am ignoring it!!

 

Next few weeks

The plan over the coming weeks is:

Leave Kz tomorrow (friday) and enter Russia...then take a few days getting to the Mongolian border.
I think it will take me a week or two to get to Ulan Batar and then a week or so to get back into Russia.
Then, a month or so to get to the end of Russia (Magadan).

I have no idea of internet cafes on the route....i am not totally convinced there are petrol stations and roads, let alone internet!!! 

If anyone wants to find roads in Mongolia and send me a small map, that will be appreciated!!!

Travellers Cheques

I may as well ask them [bank cashiers] to tie a bowline....their knowledge of both subjects is at the same level.

Asking Directions

Now....men dont like asking directions....but i have come to face facts and have to do it almost every day.

In england, two things happen when you ask for directions:

1.  They draw a detailed map (starting at the botom right hand corner of the page and running out of space) or tell you lots of instructions that you cant take in....however, after a while you find what you are looking for.
2.  They say 'sorry, i dont know where you are looking for'.

Out here, these situations happen:

1.  They draw a detailed map (starting at the botom right hand corner of the page and running out of space) or tell you lots of instructions that you cant take in....however, after a while you find what you are looking for.
2.  They dont know where you are looking for, but continue with 
            A.  Drawing a detailed map (starting at the botom right hand corner of the page and running out of space) or tell you lots of instructions that you cant take it....
            B.  Straight on.......

The worst is if you give them a clue (leading the witness) as to where it might be like "is it stright on?"  "Yes" they reply "stright on".  "Are there pigs flying around the entrance?"  "Yes, pigs everywhere".  "Are the giving out free money and children?".  "Money and children yes." 

Done it!!!

I have done it...found an internet cafe that meets the following criteria:

Computers that work.
Internet connection.
Electricity!!

It is a miracle.....open the champagne, set sail the ships, sing allehuah (sp), praise the lord, jump for joy etc etc.