Crazy day in Ukrain, I am in another world called weird, weird Russia-and-friends-alike. This whole journey was already exhilaratingly mind fucking, today I did the extra mile, in every respect. I rode 240 km and that is 40 more than I had planned.
My road should have gone through Moldova for about 20 km but… no pasaran, the border was closed for whatever reason, so back off and complete rerouting! My way or the highway… My initial route would have gone all on secondary roads for 200 km, without any clue about the road quality. For the rerouting, 160 km on highway E87/M15 was the only option. Perfect road quality, and especially the first 100 km were astonishingly quiet. Second part was a little busier but safe anyway, so I could speed up for almost 160 km. Need for speed!
For the last 60 km I rejoined my initial route, and oh boy, it was vintage Russia I suppose - an endless, ridiculously pothole infested detoriated road, slalom all the way, just like the locals in their old skool Lada’s, at peace with their fate just like we are with our traffic jam fate. Riding Russian roads, it’s like ballet, it’s like waltzing, it’s like whatever, for drunkards who can’t dance but don't care after all. Moreover, all day long I didn't barely pass any city or village worth the name, just some some dusty lost settlements. Who’s world is this, not mine anyway!
I ended up in the village of Kurortne, coastal resort at the Black Sea, equally all-Russian style I suppose… just weird, both the hotel, the whole alienating layout and vibe of the village and the ongoing impossibility to communicate…
More stories on request! I am going to Odessa tomorrow but by tomorrow night I should have already left Ukrain, wish me luck, I keep you posted!
My road should have gone through Moldova for about 20 km but… no pasaran, the border was closed for whatever reason, so back off and complete rerouting! My way or the highway… My initial route would have gone all on secondary roads for 200 km, without any clue about the road quality. For the rerouting, 160 km on highway E87/M15 was the only option. Perfect road quality, and especially the first 100 km were astonishingly quiet. Second part was a little busier but safe anyway, so I could speed up for almost 160 km. Need for speed!
For the last 60 km I rejoined my initial route, and oh boy, it was vintage Russia I suppose - an endless, ridiculously pothole infested detoriated road, slalom all the way, just like the locals in their old skool Lada’s, at peace with their fate just like we are with our traffic jam fate. Riding Russian roads, it’s like ballet, it’s like waltzing, it’s like whatever, for drunkards who can’t dance but don't care after all. Moreover, all day long I didn't barely pass any city or village worth the name, just some some dusty lost settlements. Who’s world is this, not mine anyway!
I ended up in the village of Kurortne, coastal resort at the Black Sea, equally all-Russian style I suppose… just weird, both the hotel, the whole alienating layout and vibe of the village and the ongoing impossibility to communicate…
More stories on request! I am going to Odessa tomorrow but by tomorrow night I should have already left Ukrain, wish me luck, I keep you posted!