Sibirsky Extreme 2012 - The Toughest Ride of Them All

[ROD CURRIE]

Originally Posted by Evilstare

In addition to all the other praise already posted by everybody else, I really love how circles get closed. First the Australians, then a bunch of updates on Victors health and now the russian "tourists" who get in touch. The internet has turned the world into a village!

There's another of these closing circles experiences in a few days

[ROD CURRIE]

Originally Posted by Jurassic

I couldn't agree more, that is a truly stunning picture Prutser!

Agreed. It's probably the pic of the thread. Absolutely knockout image

[rdwalker]

Originally Posted by Prutser

...
We asked Walter to let us know asap if there was news about the KTM, so we could be back in time to reunite the group .
...

I did not see that issue discussed - sorry if it is a 205.

How did you guys communicate with outside and with each other? From my experience, mobile phone coverage is pretty good world-wide, at least in towns - and particularly in developing areas, where investment goes into mobile, rather than fixed, infrastructure.

Was it the case on your trip? I assume that the system is GSM - were you able to obtain local SIMs? Or did you only rely on email via internet access in towns?

And, about what you wrote, that Walter was to let you know about Rod: were you in contact even in the middle of the mountains? On phone?

Thanks for the great report, hopefully you are enjoying your Chrismas Eve now.

[Tfogger]

Originally Posted by ROD CURRIE

There's another of these closing circles experiences in a few days

Rod, you are a cruel, cruel man. Rationing is torture to an addict...

[Baggi'tard]

Originally Posted by Tfogger

Rod, you are a cruel, cruel man. Rationing is torture to an addict...

Nah, he's just like the rest of this crew, a great story teller.. now he's got you hooked for the next chapter..

[livewire]

Merry Christmas guys and gal (and a prosperous New Year!)

Really enjoy coming along for this ride. Thanks for all your work in making it happen.

[Colebatch]

Originally Posted by rdwalker

How did you guys communicate with outside and with each other? From my experience, mobile phone coverage is pretty good world-wide, at least in towns - and particularly in developing areas, where investment goes into mobile, rather than fixed, infrastructure.

Was it the case on your trip? I assume that the system is GSM - were you able to obtain local SIMs? Or did you only rely on email via internet access in towns?.

Yes , like the majority of the world, Russia is GSM. Well all just took our normal UK / Dutch phones with us, made sure they were unlocked, and used local sim cards. A Russian pay as you go sim card is pretty much free. Usually about 5 bux and that includes 5 bux worth of credit. We pretty much all had smart phones. I think from memory the other 4 all had iPhones and I had a Sony smartphone. I could SMS or whatsapp Terry and Prutser. And I was emailing Rod.

Coverage in Russia is mostly 3G and unexpectedly good. I have more trouble getting a good signal in parts of London sometimes than often in remote parts of Russia. It was good 3G coverage in Ukraine too ,.. but was pretty crap in Kazakhstan.

[ROD CURRIE]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

. I could SMS or whatsapp Terry and Prutser. And I was emailing Rod.

Coverage in Russia is mostly 3G and unexpectedly good. I have more trouble getting a good signal in parts of London sometimes than often in remote parts of Russia. It was good 3G coverage in Ukraine too ,.. but was pretty crap in Kazakhstan.

Contact was surprisingly good in most of Russia (Kaz has 4G now across much of it but maybe that's since we got back and it will just be the main towns, and they're a LONG way apart)-probably better than in the UK is although it was sometimes delayed due to timezones.

Anyway. What I really logged on to say was: Thanks to all of you who've been watching and supporting our travails and delights, and may you spend the festive season in the capacious bosom of your loved ones. You are shining diamonds in a world of scabrous lepers
To my companions-what a gas!

I will toast you all when I go back downstairs...fair to say I've toasted more than a little already.

[Prutser]

On the evening of day 54 Terry turned on his cell phone and received a text message from Walter.
Telling us that Rod was on its way back and would be with us soon.

That was something we had been waiting for for almost a week now. Although we didn't knew if his bikes problems were solved, but lets think positive.....
It was still a bit early but the mosquitoes were eating us alive so we took refuge in our tents and crawled into our sleeping bags.

The next morning the view was AMAZING.



Not only the view was overwhelming but the amount of mosquitoes still out there was too.
They were so annoying we packed our stuff as quick as possible and drove towards the river we crossed the day before.
There we made ourself some breakfast.



Beamster thought is was a good time to check the air filter on her X country.
Under the supervision of Terry



In the mean time I did some more birdwatching again and tried to make some pics of this Lesser Kestrel.

[2WheelieADV]

Amazing report!! This is a kind of trip any average rider would give up on many things to have, and a dream for most of us. However, it begs this question: have you ever had a weak moment when you asked yourself "why do I need to wake up and ride again...? I had enough and wana go home...I miss my loved ones... waking up in my warm bed without having to ride on end..."?? Just a thought.

[WhorehayTheBarbarian]

Originally Posted by 2WheelieADV

Amazing report!! This is a kind of trip any average rider would give up on many things to have, and a dream for most of us. However, it begs this question: have you ever had a weak moment when you asked yourself "why do I need to wake up and ride again...? I had enough and wana go home...I miss my loved ones... waking up in my warm bed without having to ride on end..."?? Just a thought.

WHOa!!! easy now... dont goin killing the mood for the rest of us!

[ciedema]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

Coverage in Russia is mostly 3G and unexpectedly good. I have more trouble getting a good signal in parts of London sometimes than often in remote parts of Russia. It was good 3G coverage in Ukraine too ,.. but was pretty crap in Kazakhstan.

I found the 3G coverage in Russia better than I what have found in the US and Canada. Even even small towns.

[Rango]

Originally Posted by ROD CURRIE

Contact was surprisingly good in most of Russia (Kaz has 4G now across much of it but maybe that's since we got back and it will just be the main towns, and they're a LONG way apart)-probably better than in the UK is although it was sometimes delayed due to timezones.

Anyway. What I really logged on to say was: Thanks to all of you who've been watching and supporting our travails and delights, and may you spend the festive season in the capacious bosom of your loved ones. You are shining diamonds in a world of scabrous lepers
To my companions-what a gas!

I will toast you all when I go back downstairs...fair to say I've toasted more than a little already.

As I was pumping water out of the cellar I was longing for the bike, next thinking of the second best, pausing to this report.
What brought me to:

This grashopper, sir

wants to make a libation
to you and your fellas
For your dedication to the ride and the report.

Enjoy the Season

[AteamNM]

As someone said earlier, people from all corners of the world sharing the same camp fire. Thank you for enriching my mental life team Sibirsky. Happy holidays to all the inmates. Please continue.

I would like to raise my glass to the Labrador that left us all with a few . Salute to him.

[rdwalker]

Originally Posted by ROD CURRIE

... may you spend the festive season in the capacious bosom of your loved ones. You are shining diamonds in a world of scabrous lepers ....
Coverage ... probably better than in the UK...

On behalf of the scabrous lepers, may I say: Thanks!
And: Thanks for Taking Us on the Ride! All the best to you all.

Robert.


PS. I am amused to see that you are also experiencing crappy mobile coverage in the civilized center of the world (or, so I am told), while it all works like a charm in Outer Timbuctu...