Siberia in May
Hi everyone
We are looking to set out from Vladivostok in late April / early May 2010, heading to London, via Khabarovsk, Chita, Irkutsk, Mongolia, the stans etc.
My girlfriend just had the following conversation with a Russian lady:
I just had the Russian patient- she moved here about 15 years ago from Kyrgztan. I told her about your trip and she said “No, if you love him and you don’t want to lose him then tell him he can’t go. They will be very lucky if they leave Russia still alive.” L And she said that you cant drive through Siberia/Irkutsk without chains until at least the end of May/beginning of June. And she said that when she was there (in late May) she saw a car accident about every 10 minutes while she was driving. Her family aren’t even letting her grandchildren learn Russian because they don’t want them to ever go there because it’s not safe. Ugh. Such a depressing conversation. Definitely not helpful to my already significant levels of concern!!
Um, does anyone have any experience in this part of the world that might counter some of this (and placate my girlfriend)? The key issues here = how viable is riding in late April/early May, and are there really that many car crashes?
My understanding was that most areas would have thawed by the beginning of May. Is this correct?
Thanks guys!
Rob
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