Vanino to Khabarovsk (200km of gravel road = 2 punctures)
June 29, 2008 1:28 am 07. RussiaAfter an 18 hour ferry trip we reach the port town of Vanino on mainland Russia.
On the ferry we meet Russian truckers, with whom we drink vodka and eat salted onion stems 
From Vanino we ride over 200km’s of gravel road to Lidoga. It’s slow going at an average of 30km/hr, with relatively monotenous views of the taiga and deserted lands of far east Russia.
Despite the slow pace we still manage to get 2 punctures. Without a single town between Vanino and Lidoga, it means roadside repairs…
To complicate things a little more, the electric starter on the Africa Twin stops working. When pressing the starter button, we only hear a brief clicking sound of the starter relay, followed by a half turn of the starter motor and then nothing! We have no option but to push start…
From Lidoga it’s asphalt all the way to Khabarovsk. In the centre of town we stumble upon a very friendly English speaking couple of Olga & Sergei. Who, attracted by the Africa Twin, ask about our trip and offer accommodation.
We spend two nights in their VERY comfortable house and meet some of their friends…
Then, Sergei uses his local contacts to help find probably the only starter relay for a Honda motorcycle in Khabarovsk… We replace the faulty one and the Africa Twin roars into life!
Olga/Sergei, thank you for the fantastic hospitality!!!
Today we set-off towards Chita. It’s around 2,300km from Khabarovsk, with 90% of the way over gravel road! Should be fun…
Dana :
Date: June 29, 2008 @ 12:43
No to sie Wam dzieje zreszta tak jak w zyciu ,ale mimo wszystko jest fajnie,poznajecie nowych kudzi i bawicie sie dobrze,zycze wam,zeby Afryka zaczęła zdrowa pedzic i pozdrawiam!
Janusz :
Date: June 30, 2008 @ 11:48
Śledzę waszą podróż odkąd natknąłem się na wzmiankę w prasie i jestem pelen dla was podziwu. Mimo poważnych 33 lat dopiero zaczynam przygodę z motocyklem, ale mam nadzieję, że kiedyś uda mi sie przeżyć coś podobnego. Trzymam za was kciuki. Przy okazji pytanie do pani Izy: czy zbieżność nazwisk z Sebastianem Fryczem i zamiłowanie do rajdów samochodowych to tylko przypadek?.
Pozdrawiam
Janusz z Tychów
Piotr :
Date: July 3, 2008 @ 8:56
Czesc !
Pewnie jeszcze jestescie w drodze do Chity.
Pozdrowienia od Ren i odemnie!
Po powrocie mozesz otwierac zaklad wulkanizatorski heheheh !!
Mam nadzieje ze nowe opony przydadza sie jak najpozniej.
Trzymajcie sie !!
singapore2poland :
Date: July 4, 2008 @ 3:17
to Janusz:tak, tak zgadza sie to brat startuje w rajdach od lat…
pozdro,
singaporedream :
Date: July 13, 2008 @ 14:19
great job done. we will be crossing for the same route as u, but will be from europe to russia 2 mogolia then china. i would need ur help. could u email me ur gps log track in russia for me? that would be very great in help for me. we are on the way to argentina. if u need any parts u can sms me and mayb i can help u.
singapore2poland :
Date: July 19, 2008 @ 13:09
Hey Singaporedream!!
Hope you’re traveling (sailing) well.
Unfortunately we can’t give you any GPS coordinates as we’re not using one
You shouldn’t have any truoble in Russia though. Mongolia is another story, but we’re having fun with the map, compass and locals…