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7.8.2013: Starting out from kiev at super-early o'clock for russia, volgograd in particular, we had a long day ahead...a long day indeed. The transit visa would start today and we have three days to get thru russia to kasachstan. Driving out of kiev at that time has amazingly free streets because aparrently people there dont drive till post-hangovr, or until the booze kicks in. Needless to say, there are some nuts drivers as we were to find out.
Given we had free reign of the freeway, 160 seemed a nice round number...until someone flashes their lights to say there are police ahead (thanks guys!)
We had our preconceptions about eastern europe cops...aaaand here we go, we're now getting pulled over..."chill man, just be cool"
Cop: "what are you up to?" (Checking out the insides of the car)
Nic: "volgograd"
Cop: *confused funny face* "ah, you'll have to turn right sometime in the future"
Then came the overtaking wars. Anyone, no matter how slow the car, would try and overtake without fear of death... Seriously! So many missed opportunities.
Last city in ukraine was serious business..like wild west with crayzy traffic, drivers and tractors. Last stretch of road out of ukraine was like a paint mixer. The exaust got louder and louder everytime it hit the streets or the other way round...
Stopped off at a road house for fuel and some borsh and steak and nic had a great chat with the owner in german.
Arrived at the russian border and 2 hours later we were across. Sun was going down and a lightning storm in the distance made for an ominous but beautiful welcome.
Driving in the dark and russian roads shouldnt mix. Especially with laterns as headlights.
Due to bad roads the exhaust was at the verge of extinction. The road that we took to get a hotel before pitch-black, ended with a river in the way. One other car was waiting for the ferry too, it was ten in the evening. He said it will arrive in 10 minutes. Half an hour later they turned off all lights and we thought we were going to sleep in the car, but after an hour the ferry arrived; whereupon we realised we had no local currency, and we had to improvise.
Damon asked nic "should we try ukrainien currency?"but nic said "lets just get on that boat first"...smart move. *thumbs up*
He didnt wanted ukrainien currency, so damon offered a cigar. He was more interested in the beautiful wooden box, so that was an expensive 50 meters on water...but Damon took it in stride. The other driver that was waiting with us (and also interested in why 2 guys would want to drive to Mongolia...as was the Captain) then, the driver got us to a bancomat and to a hotel. The night was saved, what a exiting start to russia!
8.8.2013: Next afternoon we were looking for a mechanic, we found one after some getting further into russian detail with terms in carbusiness, its not the afto-something (long day sorry) its just like a hole in the wall thingy you have to look for.
We then checked the exhaust and it was broken pretty bad, he said he doesn't have that diameter and he cant help us. Thanks to mark, !!Our hero of the day!! we had an exhaust repair kit, which fucking nailed it!!! (Remember 8.th of august: celebrating marks day fro now on).
Driving 100-odd kms to the next cross-town only to find that the bridge was out... BUT luckily there were some helpful locals to get us back on our way...for a price...who just happened to be super-young teenagers with motorbikes. "Hmm".
Nic: how much?
Two dudes leaning in the window looking at iphone: 150 rubles (2-3$)
Damon: we are gonna get jacked!
Nic: not everyone wants to take your money!
*fast forward 15 minutes*
Young dude: (probably asking for more money, we established)...*something russian pointing at stuff*
Damon: No, we're going to kazakhstan....
Nic said "no thanks, bye bye!"
Young dude got us on the road and we legged it...160 through fields of green, sunflowers, cows, crows, horses and a LOT of road. *video and photos to follow* Finally arrived in somewhere four hours away from the border, a place where you would not want to stay a minute longer than necessary, a typical border town, only trucks, a gasstation. Everything got really basic, toilets in the backyard (plumpsklo), a shower you would not want to touch, dirty rundown and also cheap. Met some nice fellas from tschetschnia, prensented s with a watermelon, got some cuban cigars in exchange.
We now made the first 3500 kilometers.... We have get over the border to kasachstan tomorrow, because damons transit visa is running out then. Seems we can make it, only 200 km away from the border. Good fight, good night!
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