Volgograd - Astrakhan, Left Bank

[danielsprague]

Just for something a little different, I was wondering about driving the left bank road down the Volga from Volgograd to Astrakhan.

I have a hunch, not sure from where, that this road is restricted though... has anyone her driven / ridden it?

I know it passes the ballistic testing range at Kasputin Yar, but I would imagine that rather like Mezhgorye or Baikonur, one can still pass the town entrance, just not enter it?

Ideas?

[Bartosz]

I've driven this route last year. No problem at all. We slept in step near Aktiubinsk. The route was empty and in good conditions.
We left Wolgograd in the night and after crossing bridge on the north side of city we had a little problem to find right road.
The rest was great.

Bartosz
[url=http://www.wyprawy4x4.com.pl]Wyprawy 4

[colebatch]

One thing I have wanted to see there (but never made it) is an archeological dig at the site of the former Mongolian capital in Russia ... Sarai (or Sarai Berke). It was the capital of the Golden Horde for 300 years and is on the Akhtuba channel near the east bank of the Volga, near the town of Selitrennoye. Its replacement, New Sarai is also near there but closer to Volgograd.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarai_(city)

[WesleyDRZ400]

Daniel i read your blog and looked at most your pictures and it is the most amazing blog/pictures iv seen and you went to some great places on your MK3, I had a MK3 & MK4 for awhile

Biggest mistake i made was not spending enough time in Astrakhan its a very interesting city with lots to see

[danielsprague]

Originally Posted by colebatch

One thing I have wanted to see there (but never made it) is an archeological dig at the site of the former Mongolian capital in Russia ... Sarai (or Sarai Berke). It was the capital of the Golden Horde for 300 years and is on the Akhtuba channel near the east bank of the Volga, near the town of Selitrennoye. Its replacement, New Sarai is also near there but closer to Volgograd.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarai_(city)

That sounds right up my street, thanks for the link... Have you been to Arkaim in Chelyabinskaya Oblast??? Good to hear that the area is open.

Originally Posted by WesleyDRZ400

Daniel i read your blog and looked at most your pictures and it is the most amazing blog/pictures iv seen and you went to some great places on your MK3, I had a MK3 & MK4 for awhile

Biggest mistake i made was not spending enough time in Astrakhan its a very interesting city with lots to see

Thanks a lot Wesley, glad that you enjoy it. I'm just about to start the build leg of a nut-and-bolt rebuild of my MK3... will be brand new with 405,000km

Not spending enough time in Russian cities.... story of my life!

Daniel

[colebatch]

Originally Posted by danielsprague

That sounds right up my street, thanks for the link... Have you been to Arkaim in Chelyabinskaya Oblast??? Good to hear that the area is open.

Sadly no. I go off road riding in the Urals quite a bit, but only heard about this after posting my last Ural ride on a Russian off road forum. One of the guys straight away suggested I should have stopped by Arkaim.

Next time ...

[danielsprague]

I got to Arkaim, only to find that there was a flood between the end of the road and the big mound... still, I sort of saw it. Amazing to think that in such a remote spot, the beginnings of the Vedic / Aryan cultures may lie.....