Local knowledge / experience needed!

[MacP]

Hello
Myself and a couple of mates are taking a trip later this year - it's a nice jaunt through the Baltic, Western Russia and Ukraine.

We have a blog / website and the route details are posted on there. So can peeps have a looksee and let us know any advice / tips relating to the route we're taking.

Seriously any info would be great - but be nice!!!!!!

Cheers in advance...

Patrick

www.journeytorussia.co.uk

[iswoolley]

I've ridden through some of the countries you'll be visiting. There's a thread in the Ride Reports forum here. There might be something useful in it for you.

[Shep]

Patrick

I lived in Russia and the Ukraine for nearly 3 years so i can give you some advice.

1 You will be stopped by the police and they will be after bribes, especially in Russia the going rate is about 2 euros. In Ukraine this used to be bad but the new goverment have told the police not to stop Foreign plated vehicles so it is now much better.

2 The roads are reasonable certainly not up to British standards but not too bad, stick to the major roads as the sideroads can often be very poor quality.

3 You can camp virtually anywhere. Hotels are available but not that cheap.

4 Eating out is very cheap and so is beer about 60p a pint. Supermarkets are everywhere and the choice of food is now very good

5 Mobile phone network is very good in all these countries and internet connection is available pretty much everywhere.

6 The younger locals speak English, the older ones do not !!! the cyrillic alphabet takes a bit of getting used to as all signage is in cyrillics.

7 The baltic countries are interesting St Petersburg is fascinating really incredible city. I would give Moscow a miss just a big grey city full of unfriendly people, all the locals will tell you this. For me the Ukraine is the best Kiev is a very beautifull city, in the summer the Crimea in particular Yalta is spectacular, and also Odessa is fantastic as well a real party capital.

If you need any more help contact me on ceri@trendinvestor.info my wife Anna is Ukranian so she speaks Russian and Ukranian she can help you with Visas or anything else you will need. I also have a beutifull flat in Nikolaev just outside Odessa that you can use if you need.

One other major question, are you and your mates married?

The baltic countries and Russia are full of incredibly beautifull women and when you get to the Ukraine in particular the south of the country it is completely off the scale !!!!! i defy any man to go to to that country and not have his jaw hit the floor !!!

Anna told me that the local girls allways laugh at the foreigners as they are the ones in the bars and cafes whose mouths are wide open, dribbling !!! it is so true i have never seen anything like it, the local lads are used to it. There are far more women than men as well.

You will have a great trip, for me the Ukraine is the best, i am certain you will enjoy that the most.

[Shep]

I have just seen your route, interesting

Personally i would head from Petersburg down to Kiev then Crimea, boat across to Odessa then take the good road to Lvov.

Also try the local Vodkas they are very good !!!

Anna and myself this summer are taking the Varadero to France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Poland, Ukraine go down to our Flat in Nikolaev then Romania, Bulgaria, to Turkey i have a lot of friends here boat across to Greece to my mum and dads holiday home in the Pelopaneese then across to Italy, then South Of France and home !!!

We have been living on bread and water all winter to save enough money up for THE BIG ONE

Ceri

[Slimie]

Have a great time, Patrick. I'm a bit jealous

-Simon

[Slimie]

Ooooh, I know! If you plan on falling off make sure your tank bag presses the horn button so the rider in front looks around and spots that you're down

[MacP]

Yes that's already set up!!!!!

[Chad]

i havnt a clue but apparently a big smile is the best weapon against agression it works for me

most of all be carefull and keep us up on your progress if poss

[Whealie]

a big smile is the best weapon against agression it works for me

Possibly, but when I look at your smile I get a stiff neck looking up so high.