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Author Topic: Road Trip to Russia  (Read 18893 times)

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Offline msmob

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Road Trip to Russia
« on: November 13, 2017, 06:22:45 PM »
Some of you might know that I spend a lot of time in Sochi, Russia and quite like it !

I've frequently toyed with the idea of doing a road trip and now I'm leaving the UK to drive across a few European nations and HOPEFULLY - I'll be allowed into Russia to hand deliver a letter from the Mayor of Cheltenham to the Mayor of Sochi -  I studied and live 20 mins from Cheltenham -  when in the UK and I've been working on a project with Russians on a concept of mine that they have helped me bring to fruition

Michael - one of my colleagues and native of Sochi is taking his life in his hands and driving back with me  - he came to Sochi to bring the pre-production prototype to test and we will give it a good 'trashing' on the way back.

Our journey will end with the handing over of said letter and we will drive to Sochi Autodrom's Formula 1 track - where our journey will finish in the pit-lanes

I'll update here as we cross Europe and you'll be able to track us as we cross France, Belgium, Germany, Poland .....


Offline JohnDearGreen

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« Reply #1 on: November 13, 2017, 07:40:38 PM »
... taking his life in his hands and driving back with me   
I liked everything about Sochi except:
Flight from Moscow in a Russian airplane.
Rock & pebble beach.

Offline ML

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« Reply #2 on: November 13, 2017, 09:40:15 PM »
Moby, I have it from a good source that USA just captured a major Russian spy.

So don't be surprised if the Russians snatch you up to use as trade bait.
A beautiful woman is pleasant to look at, but it is easier to live with a pleasant acting one.

Offline Maxx2

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« Reply #3 on: November 14, 2017, 01:54:07 AM »
Moby, I have it from a good source that USA just captured a major Russian spy.

So don't be surprised if the Russians snatch you up to use as trade bait.


Moby, I was going to wish you a happy journey but now I am not sure you should try it.

Offline msmob

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Road Trip to Russia
« Reply #4 on: November 15, 2017, 02:42:03 AM »
Well, we started our journey from Cheltenham.

On our way to France and Belgium.


Offline msmob

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« Reply #5 on: December 02, 2017, 03:52:02 AM »
Misha ( Mikhail ) is a brilliant programmer and had never left Mother Russia - despite that - he can speak near perfect English and has a vocab that excels most natural English speaker.

Whilst the reason for the trip was to test a piece of kit they made on behalf of myself and a fellow Brit - before putting it into production - we also wanted Misha to see places he'd dreamt of.   

Sadly, Paris was a bit out of the way - but on our drive from Cheltenham to Dover  - having met the Mayor of Cheltenham - we drove through London - and he took in the Houses of Parliament, The Shard, Tower Bridge and much more.

He had seen English villages, Welsh mountains, Manchester and met some Russians settled in the UK



Our device was supposed to prove that our device could roam across EU states and we discovered that when we got to France - that we were 'last seen' in the English Channel :)



So, instead of enjoying the sights - Misha ended up finding out why the sim card failed to roam and we went out to eat late.

Bruges/ Brugge in November isn't a high tourist season and lots of places were closed - plus I was reeling at how weak the  British Pound was - so stuff seemed expensive

We walked past one restaurant and the blonde lady waved us to come in from the cold - it was empty and we nearly felt sorry for her ..

Turned out that she was an adopted orphan of Chernobyl and although her name was Stephanie - it was actually Svetlana - her adopted parents changed it..  The food was great and we were glad we accepted her invitation ....  tomorrow would be 3 countries in a day and a LONG drive to former East Germany



Offline Trenchcoat

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« Reply #6 on: December 02, 2017, 04:04:40 AM »
Moby, I have it from a good source that USA just captured a major Russian spy.

So don't be surprised if the Russians snatch you up to use as trade bait.

ML the thought of it is priceless :D

I will alert the relevant authorities of an oddball character of dubious nature due at there border any day now ;D
"If you make your own bread, then and only then, are you a free man unchained and alive living in pooty tang paradise, or say no and live in Incel island with all the others." - Krimster

Offline msmob

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« Reply #7 on: December 02, 2017, 04:08:00 AM »
I will alert the relevant authorities of an oddball character of dubious nature due at there border any day now ;D

You'd be a little late - I've been in Russia 7 days, already ..

Offline Maxx2

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« Reply #8 on: December 02, 2017, 07:48:15 AM »
You'd be a little late - I've been in Russia 7 days, already ..


Maybe they will be on the lookout for you thanks to Trenchcoat? Moby, I'd be sure not to be wearing your trademark Sky Blue framed glasses.
 

Offline msmob

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« Reply #9 on: December 02, 2017, 07:52:09 AM »
They are at the bottom of a lake - much to SC's joy ! :)

Offline msmob

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« Reply #10 on: December 02, 2017, 10:47:24 PM »
Day Two of the road trip:

Misha - doesn't like getting up early - he is an Owl and I'm a Lark .... I want to drive in daylight - he's been programming half the night - having just of something else very clever that is beyond my tiny brain

We leave Brugge / Bruges and have the usual 'discussion' as to which sat nav prog is correct - Waze v Google Maps and the cars built in Sat nav ... ( as the car is 5 years old - this is the first to be dumped )

As Misha isn't and cannot drive - I am 'forced' to accept his google Map taking us back WEST - when we are supposed to be going East...

Our destination is Magdeburg - in former East Germany - chosen as it hosted the former equiv to Cheltenham's listening centre ( GCHQ) ...The sat nav tells us it is over 420 miles  ( about 6 hours 45 mins)

http://www.rac.co.uk/route-planner/l/sEBs



All was good until we hit the Antwerp Ring Road and 'parked' for 30 mins in a traffic jam..  We hit another traffic jam in the Netherlands - but it allowed us to observe how our devices sim cards - 'let go' of the last nations cell towers and figured out which network to choose in the new one - the tracker and reporting functions take 3- 5 mins to 'swap' ...  So now you know why when you land in a new country's airport- why your mobile ( cell) phone takes a little while to figure out which network to choose..

By now it's 1400 and only 2 hours left of light ...  and Misha wants to stop at Eindhoven - as it's a Programmer's 'Mecca' - some guy I've never heard of - sorry Misha . 





We couldn't drive the car onto campus - so we walked around and found a place that rents rooms for biz meetings and they were just finishing serving lunch - cost 14 Euros for the two of us ... BEWARE - in NL Visa cards are rarely accepted - had to run to the railway stn to draw cash from the Visa !!



By now it was 1500 and not much light left for Misha to see places - so we crossed in Germany after Venlo and looked for signs for Hannover....   It was now Rush hour and it wasn't until after Dortmund - that the traffic jams ( Staus?) were behind us and the trusty turbo diesel was allowed a quick burst on an unlimited speed section - we saw an indicated 120MPH - and that was quite enough for me and settled down to 80MPH ( 130 Km/h)

We zoomed past Hannover and started seeing signs for Berlin and finally Magdeburg...I had stayed there in 2000 - my car had broken down on the autobahn and I had Euro breakdown cover - and found it depressing - but in the light of street lamps I hardly recognised the place - such was the construction development ..

Our hotel was on the south side of town and we arrived at 2240 - having stopped at Herford at a Turkish Restaurant - and filled up for the fist time since leaving Cheltenham - we had done 650 miles on the tank and still had over 80 left...  The car was proving incredibly economical at prolonged high speed - interspersed with traffic jams.

I was dead - and Misha went for a walk around the village - amazed that everyone seemed to be in bed ))

Tomorrow would be an 'easy' day at the wheel - a spin around Berlin - v.interesting for Russians - and onto the hotel - bordering with Poland











« Last Edit: December 02, 2017, 10:53:37 PM by msmob »

Offline msmob

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« Reply #11 on: December 04, 2017, 06:57:00 AM »
It was HARD to wake up - and we made breakfast - JUST before the 10AM deadline!

In my rush to get back, have a shower and get us on the road, I left my 'man bag' on the chair adjacent to where Isat and one of the workers knocked on my door - returning it - before I realised I had 'forgotten' it...

She looked Slavic and I just said "Bolshoi spasibo", instead of "Vielen Dank" and the lady broke into a smile and said - in Russian - "I THOUGHT that you were Russian - or spoke it".....    All my money, passport stuff, driving licence and much more was in that bag - so she saved my bacon.

We checked out and I asked the owner to pass on my thanks - again and we set off - eastwards - to Berlin - crossing the mighty Elbe - that was winding it's way to Hamburg and the North (?) Sea.

After yesterdays - full tilt autobahn session - I wanted to break myself in gently.  This was just as well as I had been having no calls on my mobile ( cell ) phone - yet the data worked(?!) and someone from the Director's office called - as it was now clear that I was 'barred' - yet my bill was up to date..  We stopped by a roadside - made some more tests - so he could hear the messages - using another mobile and agreed a hearty compensation package.

My office - at home - has a IP phone system - so that calls are forwarded - at no charge- to my mobile phone which has a UK, Russian and US landline tel number - so the extra data and financial compo was a bonus and allowed for more IP calls.

We picked up the autobahn and headed off for Potsdam - south of Berlin and the plan was to park the car and visit the Reichstag ( Their Parliament Building ) that's fall was / is so key to many FSU folk - who family suffered in 'the Great Patriot War' ( WWII)

We entered via the old Checkpoint Bravo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkpoint_Bravo)

Potsdam was beautiful, but we needed to find a toilet and settled on a new shopping centre - cost 0.30 Euro Cents -but was worth it. I also bought a USBcable for an old Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Tablet - the fitting to the tablet is weird - and we put iti nto action as our SatNav screen - I had atttached a metal shhet to the cover and a mag mounted fitting to the windscreen - now we could BOTH see where we were going - more later )

I spotted a tyre ( tire) specialist and asked how much winter tyres were for my car ( 640 Euro !!!) - This just made me more determined to push on

We drove into the centre and found it was nigh on empty - and we parked within 200m of the Reichstag - you'd NEVER be able to do THAT in London..



Then we made a HUGE mistake - trying to get out of Berlin on a Friday night - eventually - Misha found a recommended restaurant in the suburbs and BOY was it good



After the meal - we headed off to where I THOUGHT I had booked the hotel - near Frankfurt -am-Oder - not Frankfurt ( am-Main) - on the banks of the river, marking German-Poland border

I had boobed - it was 30Km north of Frankfurt and we would have to go due south - before fuinding a bridge over the river - but the journey - through old E.German villages was interesting - but as we neare the river - Fog came down.

We found the place - and I was scared that they might not take cards - we had little cash - it being in the middle of nowhere - but didn't have worried . The hotel owner was Swiss- a GREAT cook and he had decent internet - a card machine and I tried a local Schapps - only a little - with a wonderful tart









We woke up to find the fog gone and wonderful views across to Poland. I brought the newly acquired cable into play - got the Samsung tablet up and running and saw we had an hours drive south - before we could head east (( 

We were heading for Warsaw, Poland








« Last Edit: December 04, 2017, 10:31:59 AM by msmob »

Offline ML

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Road Trip to Russia
« Reply #12 on: December 04, 2017, 09:32:52 AM »
WOW Moby, very interesting.  Thanks for the write-up.
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Offline msmob

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« Reply #13 on: December 04, 2017, 10:55:46 AM »
Thanks ML - it gets 'better' )

So we hit the autobahn and headed west over the  Oder to Poland - unlike the other EU borders - France - Belgium, Belgium-France, etc we had go slow but weren't stopped...

The level of traffic had decreased and the roads were great.  Warsaw was about 5 hours drive at 120 Km ( 80  MPH)

Miles of forest ensured and undulating hills - interspersed with tolls - t cost us £20 ( approx 28 USD ) to get to the outskirts of Warsaw and our hotel - The Marco Polo was in the southern suburbs.

We passed the airport and Misha reminisced how that that had been the place were he first stepped outside Russia - en route to Britain! It had taken him c. 3 hours - not 4 days ))

The hotel was pleasant and I went out to get some more cables - to allow Misha to program and I saw something move in the ditch beyond my car - Wild Boar !



*I*  had never seen them so close and they were more frightened of me . It was a surprise to see them in the suburbs of a capital city ..but an old University friend tells me it is common in  Rome, too !



We looked at the map and realised that our days of 100 Km/h were finished and I booked an extra night in Lithuania - moving back our stay in Latvia - last night before Russia -  one day

We ordered a Pizza - as Misha wanted to do another software update - and crashed ... The device was broadcasting our location and had only used 1 MB / day - despite reporting A LOT of info - every 3 secs about the 5 sensors present- Misha was trying to reduce the data necessary and power consumption

Offline msmob

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« Reply #14 on: December 04, 2017, 11:57:01 AM »
After a pleasant breakfast - we set up from the Marco Polo Hotel  - did you know the Silk Road historian was Polish ? and headed north-east to Lithuania - our plan was to stay over in a hotel near Kaunas.

http://www.rac.co.uk/route-planner/l/sE7r




The car had been behaving perfectly - It is a 5 year old Vauxhall Insignia - a GM model - a 2 litre diesel auto estate ( station wagon ?)   It was bought in Misha's presence from a dealer on the banks of the River Mersey - opp. Liverpool and Misha had been amazed at the range and swift changes in British accents. 

We had deliberately put on 400 miles to prove that any issues we might find would show up and all seemed good. She was certainly economical - even at high speed.

The roads became poorly surfaced - esp as Misha decided to take us virtually 'off road' to avoid some road works and delays )

I could feel layers of salt and grime building up (( We had filled up - second time - just before Warsaw and I tipped the guy for cleaning my lights.. This was the first time we had to pre-pay ..In W.Europe we pay AFTER filling up - this had seriously shocked Misha ))

Our progress was SLOW and we stopped for lunch in the middle of nowhere and only had Euro in a nation that had not joined the Euro. The owner confirmed that no credit / debit cards - but that she would accept Euros.... So tea and Schnitzel were ordered and  - once again - we were blown away by the quality of the food.



I was getting dark when we came out and there was nearly 3 hours to go and it was drizzling and miserable.

Those of you examining a map will wonder. " Why are they heading North East when they want to head South West ? .....   We had to avoid Belarus and Ukraine - I needed a Visa for BY and Misha had no desire to import and export the car three times..

The last town in Poland marked some impatience on my part - we were stuck in a convoy of lorries ( trucks) who took roundabouts at a snails pace and I wanted to put my feet up... I saw a chance to overtake - but the road started to go downhill and the speed limit dropped 20 KPH ........  I was doing 19KPH over the new limit as I was caught by the Police radar and waved over to stop (((

A fair cop and I was an IDIOT - I had obeyed all the laws / limits and been patient ... I have a clean licence and no speeding tickets in 35 years !!

In Poland non nationals must pay immediately - in the local currency - so I followed the Police car AWAY from the border and had to pay £23 - approx 30 USD and got a receipt.

Now, I was disappointed in myself and the weather was getting colder and we didn't have winter tyres ... ( we had all seasons )

I pulled up at the hotel - it looked OK in the dark - had a beer and an apple tart - admired the size of the room and crashed....


Offline msmob

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« Reply #15 on: December 04, 2017, 12:40:41 PM »
I woke up in a king size bed - no single for once - and saw it was sunny and the hotel had lovely grounds. 

Went downstairs for breakfast and was stunned to find river views and a lovely fire and my huge room cost just £28 ( 34  USD inc breakfast)








The staff were clearly Lithuanian  - less Slavic - and Misha has 'fun' trying to understand the menu - even though there was an English version - Russian came last ! They were very friendly and Misha would not let on he was Russian - forgetting he had let them see his passport when registering )

We set off for Latvia and it was clear - but cold - the rain and drizzle were gone.

Our target was Kraslava - a town in Eastern Latvia - that I had only heard of first hand from a Latvian Russian lady in Cyprus.  In Latvia and Estonia the eth Russians were not given passports when the Baltic States left the Soviet Union and I was interested to see how things would be.



We crossed mighty rivers and made slow progress- as was paranoid about sticking to the speed limits  - much to the chagrin of lorries ))   We found one 3 mile long stretch of dual carriage way  on the whole journey - over-taking many lorries  who we had frustrated earlier !!

The road to Latvia took us through beautiful but desolate country....  Xutor ( tiny settlements ) interspersed with lakes and forests

We entered Latvia - feeling a change in surface and not much else. We really need to find a 'rest-room' ...  The first town was Daugavpils on the might Daugav- that rises in Russia - transverses  Belarus and enters the sea - north of Riga.

We were silent as it was approaching dark - but seemed eerily depressing. 

I knew from Cyprus' Svetlana what to expect re the locals speaking Russian- but it was a big shock to Misha - he asked in English how much for the toilets and the lady looked at him - clearly not understanding - So *I* asked her in Russian and she smiled and told us 30 Euro cents ....

EVERYONE spoke in Russian - but the adverts and wall mounted menus  in Restaurants were only in Latvian- Russian in menus came third - after English ...bizarre considering the prevalence of Russian

We tried to find a place to buy a late lunch and in the end settled on a Chinese !  It was really good - but then we discovered our device was showing that we were outside Daugavpils - clearly it had failed to roam from Lithuania to Latvia (

It was too dark to diagnose and 45 minutes further to our stopover - Kraslava ... We ran parallel to the Belarus border before entering Kraslava and found we were the first place when crossing into the town - this wasn't a hotel - but someone's home - they lived on the ground floor. They spoke Russian in preference to Latvian - but not much English - but at least Misha was back in his 'element' -so to speak

We had been using booking.com - as Misha had to prove where he was staying to get his Schengen visa -  they had even asked for the details of the car and driver's details ! All the places we had stayed at were great and this was no exception.

Misha spent much of the night trying to figure out WHY the sim card hadn't roamed and the UK network provider would only open  a case - if we agreed to stay in Latvia five days:))

WE changed to another UK provider and all was good and ready for the morning- We planned to get breakfast - try to buy insurance for Russia- I had 30 days basic cover on my policy ( BEFORE the frontier.) I slept like a log..

Tomorrow would be Mother Russia, proper - or so we thought ...fate was about to take a bizarre turn and BITE us





Offline msmob

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« Reply #16 on: December 04, 2017, 10:41:09 PM »
We woke up to snow - a very light covering and it was still showing - Donhollio From Winnipeg, Canada) - roared with laughter at this photo I posted on facebook - I dreaded driving in snow - and was trying to get the northerly stage finished to be able to dive south seeking warmer climes.





We walked in to town - early - bought some provisions and learnt that only Latvian reg'd cars could buy superior insurance cover beforehand and we set off - leaving Vladimir and Ludmilla's kind hospitality - to buy a Fire Extinguisher ( Co2 / powder ) and superior first aid kit - required by Russian law for cars.

Having bought these items at a garage outside of town - we headed north and east to the RU border - again seeing signs pointing out we were in a 'border zone' - as we first paralleled Belarus - then Russia.

Then the snow started falling ..... and we were on a minor road to cut a corner and test the roaming of our device - buy allowing it to switch between three countries..

The device worked fine - but I was thinking - BUGGER - I may need to splash out for winter tyres - as I followed in the tracks of a lorry - the only only vehicle that had passed recently. It turned out to be a bus !

We spent an hour on bumpy snow covered roads that turned to muddy slush covered roads and the snow stopped and the temp rose to 4C ! I longed for smooth, treated roads and the border.

Eventually, we spotted a tall observation tower on the Latvian side and passed the second car we had seen in an hour - before hitting the 'highway' to the border......  Isn't it funny how countries welcome you with grand highways that peter out into bumpy roads?  Well Latvia seemed to be saying, ' Good bye'  - with a wide, two laned each side motorway - with overhead gantry signs...  There were few vehicles - until we hit a line of trucks....We could see the border ahead and waited in line...then observed two cars flew past - so we tentatively followed and found that there was a queue for cars !

We stopped at the fist barrier and was asked how many people in the car, and given a number - the barrier was raised and we stopped at a white line where cars were stopped by customs - before the driver and passenger(s) go go to a second window - to have the documents for the car and passports taken by customs - and be on their way to the Russian side

Our turn came and a young chap - who spoke Russian better than English asked for our passports, my drivers licence and car docs -  he took them over to the first booth and entered into a chat with a superior.

After an age our vehicle was checked and searched, including a careful examination of the car's engine number and VIN plates were were made

All seemed OK...

But then the more senior guy came over and said, "These documents do not prove you own the car"..

I was wasn't concerned- I had checked - I had bought the car 10 days earlier - had the new buyers half of the UK V5C car's documentation -  a new one is issued within a month - the debit car receipt and invoice, MOT certificate showing the VIN number tying the car to the vehicle and my  insurance docs, plus my driver's licence matched the address to which the V5C - car log book...

" The Russians will not accept this - you cannot cross" - he continued ... There followed a my repsonse - translated into Russian and a compromise was agreed - I could obtain a Temporary Vehicle Registration Document - by email from the UK Driver Vehicle Licencing Authority ( DVLA) and they would allow us to cross on foot to the Russian side - to see if THAT would be acceptable.

A kind lady in the customs office allowed us to use her PC and I emailed scans of docs to the DVLA and digitally signed a doc giving them permission to send the Temp Reg Cert to 'another' email address- other than mine which was on their files.

During the wait - we were given only 10 mins more - before we would be 'refused' - but a further 30 mins was negotiated - no thanks to the kind lady - who spoke v.little English - but I could speak in better Russian and Misha filled in the holes. She had a sister living in Edinburgh - all seemed good and the Temp Reg Docs for the car were printed off. It quite clearly showed it is valid in all EU countries



Confident that all would be fine - or at least we would get a chance to ask the Russians we handed the Docs to a Police Inspector and waited...



He returned and asked me to sign a document in Latvian that said, I was being refused transit and that I had not proved ownership of the car and was being fined - he was being kind by making it the minimum - 3 Euros

Now, bearing in mains I had checked the Docs situation - as we left before the V5C change of ownership doc arrived - and that the Docs I had would be accepted - this was indeed a surprise and I refused to sign the doc.

Now, the inspector was not amused - but he went off to his office and I called Europa Direct the citizens help line - who told me my Docs were good and to call the U?K embassy - who told me to contact a lawyer - who told me to insist on English translations of any 'infringement' and not to sign

The inspector came back to check - we informed him of our stance - shrugged and disappeared.  20 minutes later we decided to go to his office  even though the door was marked - staff only - and enquired if we could go to the Russians to ask if they would accept our Docs ?   "No, your have no proved to me this 'Temporary Registration Document ' - anyone can just can a false passport or document" .. It was pointed out that we had used a Latvian customs email address - which the DVLA had checked for authenticity and that is always emailed. ..Plus that we had plenty of evidence tying the car to me

He offered a compromise - he would issue a warning and I could write my disagreement and have 10 days to appeal. This was agreed.

Another 15 minutes ensued and I signed - with my protest and we got in the car headed to the Russian side- but having to do  a u-turn within 20m  - as the form I signed stated that we would not try to cross the frontier pending production of an original document ...

We handed back our number - given so long ago on arrival - and headed back west - with Misha checking for accommodation - It was had to drive given the rage I felt inside - we knew of others who had crossed in the same circumstances.

I wasn't thinking straight and when stopping to withdraw cash for the accommodation at the ATM - managed to lose a Bank Debit card - didn't realise until we got to the hotel - and couldn't care - I just stopped the card - having moved any funds in the account to a saving account - found a company that could courier the V5C doc - that had ironically arrived 1 day after our departure -  and crashed ..
















 




Offline msmob

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« Reply #17 on: December 04, 2017, 11:21:46 PM »
We took separate rooms at the Motel Golden Fox - run by Vladimir. having booked, initially for three nights.

This part of Latvia was not like Kraslava- although 45 Km from the border crossing point with Russia - it was in the border zone and might have well been like the Moon - Most of Vladimir's passing trade was traffic heading to from the border.



His place was fine - but in the middle of nowhere- he provided us with a list of places to eat in the nearest town -Rezekne - and we went in to buy some provisions, while back in the UK the form V5C awaited collected by courier.

Again, most folk spoke Russian or swapped between Latvian and Russian - but all the signs / ads were in Latvian. 

We returned to the the 'lunar' landscape of the motel and I received a msg from my next door neighbour to say the package had just been collected by FedEx - but the driver had said, " no way will this be delivered next day"

In my haste I had used a an 'aggregator' / broker firm to arrange the courier and contacted them to advise what the FeEx driver had said - they simply said "Let's see what happens - as it is scheduled for tomorrow by 18.00 - even though I pointed out that FedEx had written and confirmed that there scheduled delivery was FIVE days to that post code on the service ordered.

Hint - do not trust Parcelhero.com and read the Google reviews - not the view service the firm pays for - this review industry has to be THE biggest con

FedEx confirmed there was no way to hold at depot - when the parcel arrived in Riga. (((

Misha was in his element - he now had the time to check the issues with roaming in Latvia and suggested this was a positive thing )) 

I was receiving photos from the beach in Sochi and it was minus something and a freezing north wind((

We went into Rezekne to look for a place to eat - one place had five stars and the others - well average ratings..

We found a place that did OK food - the menus were only in Latvian - but the girls spoke Russian - Misha wasn't happy with his soup - thinking it smelt sour - 'going off'.. I'd have ate anything )

We drove home and I awoke to see the docs were leaving the UK... destination unknown - could it be that ParcelHero were telling the truth ? ..












Offline Maxx2

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« Reply #18 on: December 05, 2017, 12:03:42 AM »
Oh Moby! I'd be a nervous wreck after all you went through! And then losing your ATM card because you were distracted with the thoughts of all the nonsense you just went through. These bureaucrats that some countries have more of than others, is the primary reason why I avoid certain places to live.  |


And yes, Photobucket really did try to blackmail us. They knew long ago people might come up with the $399.99 to keep their efforts up on the net. So they lured us in with the promise of free posting and having to look at their ads.
« Last Edit: December 05, 2017, 12:07:58 AM by Maxx2 »

Offline msmob

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« Reply #19 on: December 05, 2017, 03:33:27 AM »
During the night the document had travelled from the UK to France, to Sweden ! It was -again - confirmed to us ( by UK FedEx)  that FedEx didn't deliver to our post code - it would be passed to DPD and ParcelHero were proven to be TOTAL shysters ...   There was NO WAY we'd see the package today..  nor could we hold it at a depot for collection before the weekend ((

We were supposed to be in Sochi in four days time - so we needed to re-think objectives....

Misha came up with a blinder .." Why don't we test how our device works on a train?"  He proposed putting the car on a train to Sochi !! The Service works from either St Petersburg or Moscow, to Sochi - but the car couldn't be booked until IN Russia ..  This would avoid the snow on the way south - if only we could get our document - as we could not 'exit' Latvia without - in theory - breaking a law.

The day passed slowly - with much denial and obfuscation from Parcel Hero as to the service they advertised v being able to sell - they STILL showed an order placed to our post code in Latvia would be delivered next day

In the evening we tried a restuarant in Rezekne that had been pannned - on the basis it could only get better... All was fine - until the butter turned up with human hair in it ....  We had alrady ordered - so advised we would pay for the drinks and eat elsewhere.

The poor waiter was v.understanding and we got 25% discount on the drinks

We ate in a burger bar - noting that half the places in google had closed down....As I sat in the freezing fog, at traffic lights - I had the strangest thought .."I could be suicidal in this town" ... and I laughed out load - having to explain my bizarre behaviour to Misha - who had a quizical look on his face ....   Incredibly - he had had the same thought !

We got 'home' - having bought some medication for Misha as he had been feeling unwell - possibly another reason the enforced stop - might - just might have been a 'blessing' ... 

Vladimir - the Motel owner - asked about the progress of the package and  on checking email updates saw that it was now in Helsinki !

Now only Estonia and the Baltic lay in our way - and he worked out that it would arrive in Riga just after we woke up!  He took our consignment number and promised to call Riga - early - in the morning 

 

Offline msmob

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« Reply #20 on: December 05, 2017, 04:50:43 AM »
I awoke early and saw Vladimir was up, too bringing in logs for the fire. There a was biting north wind - but the temp was +1C !

On seeing me, he called FedEx at Riga airport and spoke to Zane - in Russian - the package was there - awaiting DPD to collect for delivery Monday / Tuesday and she agreed to hold it - I just needed to show ID  - RESULT!

Riga was the 'wrong way' - but it would save another 4 days wait ..   Within minutes we were on our way and thanked Vladimir )

We had no idea want awaited us - but we had to try. Riga Airport was 3.5 hours the wrong way....(

Our old friend the Daugav River reappeared - and was to our right as we approached Riga - some beautiful summer houses on the banks..



We got there at lunchtime and Zane greeted us with the docs - BIG RELIEF ! ))

On the way out we passed a HUGE selection of rusting old Soviet aircraft from Supersonic 'Backfire Bombers' Migs, Helicopters and transport planes - it was forbidden to take photos - so I searched the net and found this link:


Info: http://travel-tips.s3-website-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/holiday-travel-tips-Riga-Latvia-city-break-aviation-museum-russian-military-aircraft-flights.jpg

We were SO close to Riga city and the Baltc Sea resort of Jurmala - but no time ((

We had to go exactly the same way back past the 'Motel Golden Fox' en route to the border and I hit a wall at Jekabpils ( Jacob's Castle?) ...Misha had used Google to find another suggested good place to eat and PAYDIRT - it was wonderful

I drank 3 double expressos and ate a deerburger served by a pretty blond Latvian lass - who smiled, was attentive and userstood English ) ..anyone who knows Expressos must come with a glass of water is cool in my book !



After the meal - I was rejuventated and we set off for the border - still over 2.5 hours away - it was aleady dark - but I trusted the road.

We bypassed Rezekne ( hurray) and beeped the horn and flashed the lights as we passed the Motel Golden Fox - Vladimir heard and saw and knew it was us ))  ..for the second time we approached the border at Terehova - it really is in the middle of nowhere...

The same young border guard took our docs, smiled recognition and our papers passed muster, we were haned our passports back and done with Latvia in less than 15 minutes ...  HURRAY !!!

Now we passed the U-turn and approached the barrier that had been SO close 3 days earlier- a check check of our pasports and we were given a number and sent to the 'newbies' line  - having been asked if we'd crossed before.

We got a charming brunette lady and she was SO apologetic as when we reached her - the computer network crashed (((

We spent 3.5 hours filling in forms and hanging around - it would have been longer - but Vladimir had copies of the necessary forms pre-printed - we could have gone through the 'regulars' line ))

Eventually, a cursory check of our car's contents and if we had alcohol or any forbidden produce, a long dictation of temp import conditions which Misha translated - and I signed the docs ...  Our passports were returned with the car docs and temp import forms - the barrier lifted - and we moved forward...   to another barrier, where we reurned our number and wished a plesant trip ... WE WERE IN RUSSIA !!




 









Offline msmob

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« Reply #21 on: December 05, 2017, 06:36:23 AM »
As warned by Vladimir - there were FIVE filling stations on the RU side of the border and we filled up with diesel at 39 Roubles a litre - about 50 pence or 66 US cents ))))

We bought some drinking water and pushed on - it was the early hours of the morning and as the first vehicle to escape in a while - we had no company on the road - which became 2 lane - 1 each way - within 300m - although smooth.

It was clear - no rain and plus 1C. I sent the cruise control at 90Kph and waited to see some sign of civilisation - some false light ... but other than the VERY occasional lorry or cell tower - there was NOTHING....    Somehow we made it to Velnikne Luki - over two hours in and drow past a motel and into the town - which proved useless for accommodation - so - 45 mins later - the motel was chosen .. We called for 'human attention' at 4am and a bleary eyed lass sold us two rooms and we CRASHED ..

At 2 pm I awoke - we headed into town to top up a RU data sim and started the device tracker feature - and headed towards Moscow.  It was over 400km away and having been 17 hours on the road yesterday - wondered if I could do it ....!

After 1 hour it was already dark, foggy and DANGEROUS as the headlights were dim - covered in crap - mud and salt off the road

I could go no more - found a rare exit and slept by the roadside

After two hours I woke up - cleaned the lights, once more and set off, again - counting down the km in 50 km incriments of joy ! )

We were down to 200km of fuel and I brimmed it 200km from Moscow - the chilly air woke me up.

100km from Moscow the road became a 6 lane - 3 each side motorway with a limit of speed beyond which I had no will to achieve - let  alone match - it was minus 4C - but no snow / rain ! We stopped for   me to eat - Misha couldn't find anything to his liking-  at a form of 'Truck stop' and I had a chickren roll and double expresso .. Fully fuelled - I was ready for Moscow.  We had booked a room with booking.com - near to the Kazansky Railway station.

We went straight towards the centre - arriving in the middle of the night - so no traffic jams and just glorious views of skyscrappers.  We found the hotel with ease and parked RIGHT outside - being early on a Sunday - it was free ))

Having booked a second room - Misha wanted to eat  - in the middle of the night ! - and after we slept ...

I made breakfast - which ran to 11 am - but Misha didn't and we walked to Kazansky Railway station  -to see if we could book the car on the train . We found the place where the car was loaded - but were sent across the road to Leningradsky station..who then sent us for  2 km walk to the booking office. At least I saw the High speed Train to St Petersburg ))

At the office - all my docs were accepted -EXCEPT - my Visa wasn't registered .... (  How could it be - I had stayed in two hotels and had 7 days to register ...right ? So - a trip to the FMS looked on the cards - if open - but we were called back - the invoices for my accommodation were accepted.  The car and us were booked on the 10.47 to Sochi the next day ))

I had hoped to meet a member from the board - but simply couldn't make a plan and Misha took me to meet a potential client before I was 'free' to seek said member out ... I had hoped to watch the last Formula 1 GP race of the season  - but everything took too long.

The car was filthy and we found a hand car wash in -6C temperatures. On entering it was like a tropical rain forest - with the moisture hanging in the air...  The guys were fascinated by the car - having no idea of the model and the owner was a F1 fan - we had a super carwash for 5 GBP - just over 6 USD !

We had a GREAT Pizza and I had a non alcoholic beer and set off to meet Misha at the hotel  - to drive the Vauxhall car to the vokzal - The Russian name for a railways station is a 'MISTAKE' - named after a place in London that HAD a  railway station .... ))

We took photos before l drove the car into the carriage that would be our trusty stead's home for two nights and we were free to eat - I could even drink a beer ! We must have walked 10 km by the time the day was done.








We found an Azeri Restaurant and sampled loads of different foods - although the 'Ajap sandal' salad couldn't match that from our Russian partner's Mum from the summer...  ( Armenians claim it's their creation )

We ordered taxis to take us in our respective directions and I passed out on lying down .....









 

Offline gaspar227

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« Reply #22 on: December 05, 2017, 06:40:24 AM »
This is seriously wow!  If you put that in a movie I'd be like...it's 2017 -- it can't be that hard.  Nice going with the persistence and ingenuity!

Offline msmob

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« Reply #23 on: December 05, 2017, 07:10:11 AM »
I awoke to Misha banging on my door - calmly telling me that we had 12 minutes to catch the train - I had fallen into a death like sleep and slept over 10 hours ...  The station was 1km away and we were on the 7th floor

I was packed in 1 minute, checked out in another and while Misha went to order a taxi by Yandex  I grabbed one that had just dropped off a client !

I was in a blind panic and confused - Misha his normal laid-back self - stating as we paid the taxi that we still had 4 minutes..

We had to go through security screening - but there was no queue and we had to run the width of the station - as our train was the last but one away ! ...

We left onto the first open door and got 'told  , "this is not your carriage ! )" - like we cared )))

The train left and I dropped into my seat feeling my heart thumping ... A small panic - I could not find my UK passport - it was in my back pocket of my jeans.  I don't think I calmed down until 50km south of Moscow - observing heavy snow and slow moving traffic - THANK GOD we took the train !

Our 'wagon' was a double decker and we quickly realised that the glass prevented the GPS antenna working and it was sealed ((

The cabin for the journey :



Tea was ordered  - 65p a cup and were tucked into some chocolate watching miles after miles of snow..

Anticipation was mounting - we were actually going to make it to Sochi !

Lunch was served - we weren't expecting a meal - it was Pork with prune sauce and buckwheat - served in tin foil - as if on an airliner. I nodded up to sleep  - again



This was an express- so it was dangerous to alight from the train - as it didn't stop long ! I observed a northbound train at Liski being made ice free by the lady responsible for the carriage ( Wagon )





We had a meal in the restaurant car - we could lock our cabin ( coupe) - having been given a key - and I had a dark beer ( Czech) and Pork Sashlik with rice - Misha had a soup. Very tasty !
 




Somehow I managed to sleep through Voronezh - so didn't get a chance to see if Angel-Eyes had brought Mini-me to wave at us - or possibly send him for a holiday in Sochi !)) 

I just slept and slept !

« Last Edit: December 05, 2017, 07:11:53 AM by msmob »

Offline msmob

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« Reply #24 on: December 05, 2017, 08:04:10 AM »
Woke up near Tuapse to see the sun appearing on northern slopes - note.. NO SNOW ! ))



Then the first sighting of the Black Sea - that would be at our side for 2 hours



Finally, after decideing we would alight from the train at Sochi - as the car could only be unloaded at Adler - 28km further south - the end of the journey - the city came into sight ..



We left the train and I finally had a chance to take a photo of our accommodation - the car bringing up th rear !



A few hours later - after surprising SC and a shower- she wasn't expecting me until the late afternoon - we went to Alder to collect the Vauxhall

The car was perfect on inspection and the same two guys who took care of her in Moscow were at Adler !! 




As you can see the temperature is somewhat different to Moscow !

Over the next few days I'll update you with the meetings we had to celebrate our arrival ('return' - in Misha's case )

Still have to pinch myself .... We could have done this in 9 days - but we were here safely and the testing Misha got done was invaluable

 

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