Personal
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Birthday source
Saturday 28 July 2018 On my 71st birthday I was up bright and early ready to start the journey to The Volga’s source, , having slept OK despite how busy the Russian rail network was below me. Nowhere was open for breakfast at 5.30 so I made do with a crust of bread in my…
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On the Russian trains
Friday 27th July 2018 My first time on a train in Russia was last nights overnight sleeper to Moscow from Cheboksary. I chose the most expensive option, a First class cabin to myself which came with an evening meal & private shower/toilet. It took nearly 13 hours todo the 474 miles including some extended stops,…
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Relaxing in Cheboksary
Thursday 26 July 2018 I’ve spent the last three days relaxing in The Garden Hotel in Cheboksary I’ve not even looked at the bike instead I’ve spent time in the lovely empty pool and reading the first novel written by Martina Cole after listening to her & her fascinating rags to riches story on Desert…
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Volga ride Nikol’skoye to Cheboksary
Monday 23rd July 2018 After a night in a truckers stop I now know there are trucks on the road all night, maybe a lot fewer but they roll through the night! I had a PYO breakfast and then tried sorting the gears out, the rear derailleur was easy just needed the wire tensioning the…
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Volga ride Lyskovo to Talgar Motel
Sunday 22nd July 2018 I’ve no idea what time the wedding party finished as I zonked out! Breakfast was not that good with not many liquids or fried eggs why are hard boiled eggs so messy to peel? I eventually got away and was amused by the kids playpark having a galaxy of army weaponry…
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Volga Ride Nizhny Novgorod to Lyskovo
Saturday 21st July 2018 Today was a nightmare of biking alongside endless convoys of articulated trucks etc, so much for my theory the main E22/M7 road would be quieter at the weekend 🙁 The first 8km or so was interesting to see all the new detached housing developments & the huge builders merchants, the economy…
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A day in Nizhny Novgorod
Friday 20th July 2018 A rest from cycling although not from the bike. The Ibis hotel breakfast was rubbish compared to my last one in the Ibis Yaroslavl 🙁 First job of the day was to get some new pedals & toeclips as well as sort out the front derailleur. Titan Cycles sorted out all…
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Volga ride Chkalovsk to Nizhny Novgorod
Thursday 19th July 2018 I slept like a log after yesterday’s marathon effort, I visited the SPAR for my breakfast sitting at their mini bar not quite up-to Japanese 7eleven standards but definitely well on the way! The weather has improved and so has the main road now almost as bad as the UK, in…
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Volga ride Kineshma to Chkalovsk
Wednesday 18 July 2018 I awoke to a dismal looking sky and a breakfast that appeared in fit & starts but which turned out OK in the end which is more than can be said for the weather. The rain started shortly after leaving and with the head wind made me leave the plotted route,…
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RCTC Kostroma to Ples
Monday 16 July 2018 My final day with the 22 Golden Tour folks, after today I’m on my own in Russia! We left Kostroma just after 8am after a good chain oiling up session after yesterday’s adventures. For once in Russia the road was in reasonable condition giving me hope of getting into some decent…