After leaving Poland I head for Kiev in Ukraine - Border was easy - all people let me pass them to get faster at the border - they seemingly like polish motorbikes. I made something like 400km this day and first night was sleeping in the forest - not too cold - 15 April. Lot of mosquitos but seemingly harmless for me. I was happy - I was thinking of Ukraine long time and have some romantic ideas about it.
Kiev - at the evening of the second day I made capitol - got hostel - another biker was there already heading to Mongolia - so my zebra didn't feel lonely. Being very tired after long day ride I went for shower and than go and see Maidan Niezaleznosti. In some reasons I felt overwhelmed of this place, mostly because in 2014 demonstration took 100 freedom fighters life away. I walked in silence of this huge square - it was almost empty - some lights and some tourist - I can not explain what I felt but it was strong, sad and admiring those freedom people spirit.
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From Kiev I went down to Vinnitsja for one night I have changed Oil - I was carrying with me at petrol station - people there were very friendly. Than head for Moldovia just to see Kishyniov. On the way I stopped for few nimbuses and left with the light on and Could not restart engine. I started using luggage strap - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWvThJfgL7Q
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| over night stay in Moldova |
Transnistria
I road to Kishiniov in Moldavia and than to Transnistria. this is what you call non recognized country they have own borders and insurance you need to buy - I assume they have own army but you can see Russian flags there. But historically this was part of Romania but in 40'ies of last century this was given to Russian and Ukrainian people who established Socialist Repoublic of Moldova and latter in 90's Transnistria proclaimed independence what lead to war. People there look Russians and speak Russians.
Odessa - Ukraine
I back to Ukraine to Odessa. It was like good wave of my travel. At the entry - Big Full Moon over, this was beautiful - magical moment. city was big but I found 5 euro hostel - mostly locals looking for the job in the city and only few foreigners. Very next day my battery died completely so I spent few days in the city looking for solution. Andrey and his wife Katia took me for Battery searching tour and we also had nice evening another night. Finally I got battery and Victor - motor biker from Odessa point me to the workshop were I can I get help and charge my battery.
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| ahh Odessa and full "tune the Moon" |
On the day I suppose to go Romiana - Bulgaria - Turcja - Gruzja I changed my plan once again and decide to see more central Ukriane, I went to Mikolaive, Meltipol and stopped for my leg problem in Dnepropetrovsk after 3 days resting I moved and come to Russian border
Entering Russia
I bay-passed Kharkiv just to get border before night. had a coffee and cake before crossing. This is my normal strategy before unknown borders to have some clean mind. My visa was business type and I have some worries regarding it - I made up idea what I will say but nobody was asking. Ukrainian side was fast and I stocked on Russian side for 3-4 hours there, there was custom officers shift change and all were very slow. Finally I made it when was completely dark. I set my tent 5km from the border. At night tractor came to the field but reverse seeing my face hanging out of the tent.
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| first night in Russia |
In the first 4 days from dnepropetrovsk I made over 2000km which was stressing my self and motorbike - on the 6 aprill evening my engine stopped and I knew this was related to oil leakage, For time being I set practice of toping oil 2 times a day. Engine sized - I pushed motorbike down the hill just to get to closest petrol station for more oil. It was 1/3 under the level and I knew this is source of engine malfunction. At the same time Anvar - young motorcyclist stopped, my zebra started without much noise and power loss and we went to his parents house just to repair oil leakage. His mother feed me well and I meet his father too. He escort me back to the main road when I found hotel for this night.
Next day after 100km motorbike lost his power and I stopped in the village where I am now waiting for transportation to Ufa for Tomorrow.
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| Andrey - He explained all local folklore to me |
