Originally Posted by colebatch

Too right Wes ...

Something to think about Ted ... If you want to go to Magadan via the legendary Old Summer Road, go next year.

The single biggest challenge on that road is the Kyubeme River crossing right at the western end of it.

Its the bridge where Ewan and Charley were faffing about at and Claudio just climbed across the collapsed bridge and went to sleep in the abandoned village on the other side. Eventually the bikes were loaded up into their support trucks and driven over the next morning.

Well to cut a long story short, the collapsed bridge, which had been collapsed and derelict for 30 years, finally got swept away in spring floods last year. The remains of the old wooden bridge were pulled down in October last year and this year a new concrete pylon was planted in the middle of the river for a new concrete bridge to be completed by the end of next year.

So next summer is your last chance to do the Old Summer Road, complete with the full Kyubeme River crossing. Once there is a brand new concrete bridge over the hardest part, it wont feel the same.

If you are worried about costs, skip Turkey and other expensive close to home bits that you can do another time.

I am constantly putting up to date info on that part of the world, as well as historical pics of interest from the BAM and Road of Bones on the Sibirsky Extreme facebook page (link in sig line). It may be useful to follow it if you are planning to go to that part of the world.

Originally Posted by Edd

i disagree about the road from Tynda to Yakutsk and beyond.

Originally Posted by noel di pietro

OK Leo, so in what stage of planning are you and when do you plan on leaving? What is your timing, driving pace, hostels/camping, heavy off roading with ultra light bike or moderate, unsurfaced/gravel type of roads? The Trans-Siberia Express sounds like a good idea, always wanted to do that trip too!


Cheers,
Noel

Originally Posted by leonardo

Hi Noel:

stage of planning ->
- planning route / specifics countries /
- details & costs visa / carnets /
- planning to finalize the planning in the next months

When do you plan on leaving?
- I think May 2014 - (best period for Mongolia seems most critical)

What is your timing
- aiming at 8 weeks but this might be a little too short
- would like to get out of Europe reasonably fast.

driving pace,
- I think a bit on the fast side of average but surely not racing
- Can get quite fast on boring highway roads and relaxed when taking in beauty

Hostels/camping,
- prefer camping but hostels might sometimes be more practical
- Try to travel light - use compact lightweight gear (tent - bag - pad - etc.)

heavy off roading with ultra light bike or moderate, unsurfaced/gravel type of roads?
- In between - Planning to use Yamaha Tenere 660 for this trip - reasonably fast and comfortable on tarmac - and reasonably capable off-road.

The Trans-Siberia Express sounds like a good idea, always wanted to do that trip too!
- maybe we can join..
- lets try to plan (part of) the trip together ?

Cheers,
Leo

Originally Posted by noel di pietro

Hi Leo,

I have my head split between two idea's, either two trips next year, first Morocco some 6 weeks then North Cape another 6 weeks. Or one longer and more adventurous trip to Mongolia which is equally appealing.

cheers,
Noel

Originally Posted by *Touring Ted*

I'm trying to turn my trip into a RTW. Still heading to magadan/VLLAD though.