Friday, September 12, 2014

Novosibirsk to Barabinsk

12SEP - Today we left at 07:45 because a day of rain was predicted and we weren't sure of lodging in Barabinsk. The temperature didn't drop to freezing as predicted and we started with 38 degrees and a blue sky.

Leaving Novosibirsk, the third largest city in Russia was easy because all the traffic was coming in to town. The blue sky soon turned to pretty heavy rain and the temperature held at 38 to 40.

Hadn't been on the road for more than two hours and dump trucks hauling dirt were pulling out on to the highway going the same direction we were. Wasn't to difficult getting by the trucks but they 'tracked' mud on to the highway. Sections were slippery but even worse the tractortrailer trucks carried the mess along the highway for mile. The result, the bikes were covered with a mud film that the rain wouldn't wash off. Us too. It was so bad we had to stop and clean our helmet faceshields so we could see the road. After 109 miles we stopped again, to get gas and again restore our vision.

The truckstop was the best so far. Covered pumps to keep the rain off us as we went through the 'Russian Process' of getting gas  (You eventually get to a gas pump that has the gas you want. 90, 92, 95 or 98. You then put the correct hose in you tank. This prevents anyone from taking your gas before you get back to the pump after paying the clerk inside the station. These gals rule with authority and sometimes bark orders via a high volume speaker system. Of course we have no idea what they're yelling about.You pay in advance for the amount of gas you want. Its a guessing game. Order to little and you're not going to go as far as you want to. Order too much and we have one of the other bikes pull up and top off. The good thing about Russians, they are use to waiting in line. No honking, or rude behavior.

The station was as nice as anything we have in the States, even had a better selection of coffee and fantastic pastry (bettter than U.S. Truckstop stuff).

By 12:30 we'd coveted 192 miles in the rsin and reached Bababinsk. There was a truckers motel and restaurant along the M51 so the thought of lunch and a hot shower killed the idea of pushing on.

After the lengthy process of getting three rooms and completing all the government required paperwork to prove we overnighted here, the rain stopped and the Sun appeared.

Tomorrow the rain should have passed and we'll continue West under blue sky.

1 comment:

  1. Doug and the Gang of Six- Looks like things are going OK, and from your words...better than expected. Sounds like the weather is like the U.P. We had 3 inches of rain yesterday and then it dropped to 36F. But I wasn't on my bike. Be safe All!- Bob Alexander

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