Getting out quick HOW?

[Kennichi]

I dunno I think I've had a few low days or something infact many low days lately exacerbated by the absence of sleep , the constant fear of breakdown and unable to fix due to stolen tools is eating at me also.

My question is I am in the Irkusk area and tbh have been having thoughts on ending the trip early. (46 days isn't too bad and I got a helluva long way).

Its 6000km to Moscow and 3700km to Manchester from Moscow this is a 20 day ride at the very least

Its a 800km ride to UlaanBataar 1-2 days at least , UB = bike abandonment opportunities cross to Beijing for a flight home.

Its a 3200km ride to Vladivostok gravel road ie 10 days riding maybe more a 36 hour ferry to S Korea then a 2 day customs and shipping wait.

Question is how on earth do I get out and home quicker than the above solutions since I'm not sure as to if I have the will to complete this trip and I'm starting to think it was a massive mistake in the first place , spending 400% of my planned budget,I'm sick all the time , lack of tools , constant fear , I've lost over 35lb in weight

[motoreiter]

yikes, sounds like you've hit the wall. you talk about abandoning your bike in Ulan Bator--if you're willing to abandon the bike, why not just leave it in Irkutsk and fly to Moscow and then home?

My bike is here on temporary import, and I have left Russia without it and come back with no problem.

On the other hand, maybe take a few days to relax, head to Listvyanka on Baikal get a room for a couple days and see how you feel, maybe you will recharge your batteries.

[Kennichi]

Finding it impossible to relax in russia ,expensive hotel (which are surprisingly noisy) / hostel / bikeclub even camping have resulted in disturbed sleep and I don't think I've slept properly since Georgia. And tbh I feel like a zombie and had to leave early for fear of stabbing somebody to death for keeping me awake for the past 4 days and him thinking its terribly funny.

[Kennichi]

Because you aren't supposed to leave without the bike or so I thought? ....

Damned thing is on my import document and Sochi wouldn't let me leave when I nearly took a ferry back to trazbon , I'm pretty sure I could get to Moscow then a customs officer would say hold on where is your bike, and leave me trapped in Moscow (perhaps an even worse situation than now).

[motoreiter]

What kind of visa do you have? I rode my bike to Moscow in early may on a business visa and received a temp import certificate for my bike. A few weeks later (with the bike in Moscow) I flew to Germany and back for a business trip, no questions asked.

If you have one of those auto-tourist visas it might be different, especially if it is single-entry, dunno.

and i don't understand your problems with sleeping arrangements, maybe youve had a few bad neighbors, just move somewhere else. I don't know Irkustk very well but am pretty sure there is a hostel there and also pretty sure there are rooms to let in Listvyanka on baikal, which seems like a pretty sleepy place.

[Chris of Japan]

Nikita's Homestead on Olkhon Island is a pretty relaxing place.
The roads on the island were not paved in 2003, but it isn't a really bad ride.
There was only one ferry to the island making round trips, so you may end up waiting an hour or so for the ferry.
Lake Baikal. Island Olkhon. Nikita Bencharov's homestead

You could put the bike on the train to Moscow or Vlad.
This, however, can take time and may be a bit stressful. It is possible with patience.

[mcgiggle]

Sorry if i'm missing something, (not knowing the area where you are) is it not possible to buy/replace your tools as not having them seems to be adding to your anx.
Have you tried the community pages for help ? If you motorcycle is running ok what about making a dash for somewhere you would enjoy more.

Not much help really but meant with the best intention.
Looks like it's dig deep time, hope it works out.

Pete

[farqhuar]

Number 1 Ken, the best cheap hostel in Irkhutsk is the Admiral - yes, it's 4 to a room but only 500 roubles. It's located directly across the Angara from the train station and pretty comfortable. Secure parking is availbel within 400 metres.

Sorry to hear you are having such a hard time. Best to relax for a few days before heading further East - Chita to Khabarovsk is exhausting. At least you should get a good night's sleep after all that manhandling the bike on the dirt but you will have to camp as there ain't any hotels.

Garry from Oz.

[maximondo]

In Irkutsk there is some really cheap places to stay, and your able to lock up bike up around the back to a fence (I had done so last year)

Also there is a motorbike shop and mechanic that can help you out, if not there is a motorbike club, they are expensive to stay with but I think they would be much better to get your bike fixed at. Ill try and find both places on Google maps for you.

motorbike shop link
motorbike shop +irkutsk - Google Maps
Car market
52.292998, 104.311248 - Google Maps
Motorbike club is about here (sorry I have forgotten the address)
52.299786, 104.310980 - Google Maps

There is also a market just for cars and motorbikes which has every tool/ item to do with them....

If you want to get out of Russia and fast, Mongolia is the best way, the road is great and you will get to the boarder in a day and a half.

In Ulan Bator there are motorbike shops, mechanics (stuff is limited and bad quality) You can stay in the motorbike friendly place which coast a fortune or you can stay at other guesthouses which have secure bike parking.

You may have hit a wall, but don't give up... this is what its all about and it pushes you to the limits, when you get through this little down, you will wonder what it was all about. Everyone hits this wall, I hope you do get through it and im sure you will find many Russians willing to help you out. Best of Luck

oh and to try and sell your bike, it takes about 8 days (in Moscow) to get it all sorted if you have someone who can speak Russian.

[Kennichi]

Hi Everybody

feeling a lot better , but the stomach bugs haven't gone away and the bike has developed a electrical fault which I cannot diagnose! , thank you for your comments and help guys it was muchly appreciated.

[ta-all-the-way]

Hello Kennichi,

Good luck, you're only gonna be a better man after all this, hard knocks and falls do make us stronger. Your story is very impressive, your balls are bigger than mine. I can only learn from what you're doing, I'd love to venture that far on my own. Prehaps one day, I'll become a jedi knight and feel the calling.

ta-all-the-way.

May the Force be with you !

[maria41]

Originally Posted by Kennichi

Hi Everybody

feeling a lot better , but the stomach bugs haven't gone away and the bike has developed a electrical fault which I cannot diagnose! , thank you for your comments and help guys it was muchly appreciated.

Hi Kennichi,

good to read that you are feeling better. In your first post you looked like in were really low. I really felt for you!

I hope I will be able to follow in your steps in 18 months time. Shame you took down your blog. Not many blogs of people doing your route (North Asia).
I hope to meet you and pick up your brain if you come back to the UK before our departure!
Best of luck!

[M'jos]

Kennichi mate, how are your stomach bugs? Still bloated, very tired, etc? If so, if complaints persist, thought crossed my mind that it might be an idea to try a course of metronidazol against giardia? 250 mg three times daily, 7 days, dont drink alcohol with it (you'll get smashingly sick if you mix it with alcohol)?

in russian you write it: МЕТРОНИДАЗОЛ
just a suggestion.. keep your head up!

grtz, Marjos, currently in St Pete, on my way east.
(am medical by profession)

[Threewheelbonnie]

Originally Posted by M'jos

....., dont drink alcohol with it (you'll get smashingly sick if you mix it with alcohol)?

..........
(am medical by profession)

Majos, Thank you for posting the last bit, your Amsterdam location had me worried for a second

Kennichi, how you doing? What are the electrical symtoms? Anything someone with a lap top full of wiring diagrams might be able to help with?

Andy

[M'jos]

Andy, nooo , its an antibiotic