24SEP - Rain was predicted for the first half of the ride to Valday today. We departed Moscow at 08:15 and as we pulled out of the parking lot it started. We thought we'd be on a reverse of the traffic but it took us half an hour to really get moving. The folks coming in to Moscow we backed up for thirty miles on a major freeway. Reminded me of Los Angeles.
The first three hours of the ride it poured. The worst rain of the entire trip. And the temperature held at 39 degrees. In a pouring rain such a ride is really not fun. I like to tell myself that such days build character.
We got to Valday, where we had reservations at Valdsiskie Zori Hotel. When the GPS told us to turn off the M-10 I looked at the msp on the GPS and saw that the hotel was about 22 miles from town. But of course the hotel has a Valday address. Anyhow, we figured why not and headed down a series of country roads following the GPS to the hotel. The roads got worse and worse and when sections were under water we decided enough was enough. So it was back to the M-10 with the thought that we'd find a motel. Sixty miles later we came upon a truckstop motel and decided the day was long enough at 18:00. For 1,500 rubles ($45) we have a room, and bath and toilet down the hall.
Screwing around with the hotel issue in Valday a 248 mile day turned in to a 309 mile day. Part of the Adventure and the plus is tomorrow, in about 162 miles, we'll be in St. Petersburg.
No pictures from the road today. Just too damn cold to get the camera out. The picture I did include is of a great chocolate cream soda they sell in Russia. Soooo good.
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