1. map: This year, the target was Moscow, we started in Hamburg, then crossed Berlin, on our way to Poland,
where the Lakeside of Masuria waited for us, from there on, the route went around Belarus, passing
Lithuania and Latvia. Here we reached the russian border. 650 km further on Moscow appeared, our
farest point on this trip. Here we changed the direction back to the west, to St.Petersburg. Going back
from St.P.(2200km) to Hamburg in only 3 days was a hard job to do.


2. tourdescription
"Ready for takeoff", my GS is still clean, the cases were full and heavy, 130 liter space plus sleepingbag,
tent, and my favourite ALU-table(Louis). Carefully we started, 140km/h was a good speed on the highway
to Berlin. 


A short visit to my uncle's home in Wandlitz near Berlin provided us a wonderful bath in lake Liepnitz
 

The following day we reached Poland in the early afternoon, this photo shows the flat area from the
poland border side.


In the early evening, we reached Grudziads(PL), and found a nice campground ( N53 26 27.6 E18 45 08.8 )
with a swimming area nearby. In the morning at 7,  I took these Photos and a warm bath. 24°C water
temperature, I guess. Yes, it was a warm summer this year, and it stayed warm, up to 32°C in Moscow.   


A little swan family had no problems with me, but I risked only few and respected the safety distance.


In Ostroda, we had a short stop.
 

Later we reached the lakeside of Masuria, an area of 150km lake by lake, we had a stopover at a
campingground ( N53 58 00.8 E21 45 37.7 ) in the little village of Rydzewo.


Next target was Kaunas/Lithuania, here we spent a nice laisure time in the pedestrian area, having pizza.


A fountain with the flair of the 1970th.
 

Still in Kaunas.....


...later we found a nice place ( N55 21 17.2 E26 06 14.2 ) for camping in a national parc near IgnAlena.
 

perfect place for a comfortably bath.....


Since Poland, and also here in Lithuania, Storks were always present in the rural regions


lake near Zarasei


border area Lithuania/Latvia


statue in Daugavpils, first town on the Latvia side of the border


near Kaunata( N56 18 22.8 E27 30 45.7 ), we found a nice place in short distance to the russian border.


The direct way to russian border next morning was a gravel road, wonderful, but the weight of our luggage
decreased the fun factor.


But soon, we reached the russian border, 8km, truck by truck, in a queue, means roundabout(20m/truck)
400 Trucks waiting to pass the border to russia.(An economic disaster ( Free travelling would be the best
for both sides, m.o.).


For us, as moto-bikers, it took only 2h, overtaking all other traffic, cars and trucks. Next day, we reached
Zubkov, here we bought our breakfast. Living here is rather primitive, flats are old and in bad condition.


Private houses were also in a poor condition .....

 

Late afternoon, we reached Moscow and discovered first the centre with the Red Square and the Kremlin

Intercession Cathedral

The great Kremlin Palace


Camping at RUS-Hotel(N55 34 15.3 E37 36 19.9) / Varshavskoe 20 km south of Moscow centre was not
possible, I found it in Internet as a possible camping address, but they just had rooms for 200€, this was
to much for our budget and we decided to leave Moscow and search for a secure place in a rural area. On
our way southwards, we met Ira and Alexander, who had trouble with his bike. Trying to help them, we
asked for an idea of a good sleeping place, but instead of giving a good tip, they invited us to sleep in their
flat. We gratefully accepted. As it became later and later, more and more members of Alexander's Moto-Club
appeared, trying to give some help, but a special screw was needed and only the right could help. In the
end, the area was crowded by nearly 10 bikers, incl. Alexej, the clubpresident and his girlfriend Alena.
She spoke a perfect german. This was very helpful for all of us the next two days. Until late in the morning,
we clink glasses on russian/german friendship. All themes were discussed, even some critical historical,
until we went to bed sometimes around 4h. 


In that night, the idea was born to have a party with the rest of Alexanders bikers-club, so Alexej had a lot
of  telephonecalls to organize a spontaneous party at a river nearby. Beginning the day, we tried to registrate
again our Visa's, the second try and again unsucessfull,  http://www.visum.de/ provided addresses for us,
which seemed not to be prooved. Nevertheless, we made a fantatic sightseeingtour by bike with Alexej and
Alena. This photo shows the watched parking area, where the bikes were parked overnight.


Kremlin, again,  with stretchcars for the wedding parties.


Moscow University


typical Moscow electrical bus


stretch car




Souvenirs at all tourist places 


Alexander tried my GS, but, (I'm sorry, A.) to big for him


Party with asgard-podolsk-moto-Club at a river nearby( N55 26 58.2 E37 29 44.6 )



message in the bottle ?


the solution:




Alena, Ira, Alexej, (me), Alexander., P.(f.l.t.r.) - Thanks for russian hospitality and friendship to our
hosts and and the rest of all, here not named, means all of members and aspirants of 
asgard-podolsk-moto-Club . An invitation to germany in 2007 will hopefully be accepted and replied.


Leaving Moscow on our way to northwest, we had breakfast at McDonald and got some money at the
bankomat, which accepted EC-Card as well as in the EU.


in Zavidovo, we visited a nice Church ( N56 31 43.6 E36 31 49.0 ), very beautyful, and in a very good
condition, found open for tourists.





some km's later, we left the highway to St.Petersburg northwards, crossed a channel near Dubna. 


Here, we found a very nice place for the night, at river Volga, bathing was possible and we were very
pleasant for this romantic place ( N56 43 41.9 E37 07 41.7 ). 



Lenin was watching this area and gave us a secure feeling.


Near Vyshniy Volochek, we visited this Church


Shortly before Nowgorod, there is a military remembrance. Here, bad fights took place in WorldWar II.


Nowadays tourists visit Nowgorod, because of the old historical town centre.



outside the walls...


inside....


St.Petersburg welcomed us with a short heavy rainfall, and a lot of fountains....


and, again, Lenin...(showing, as always, the way to the next wodka shop ;-) )...


No difference to other european capitals like Rom, Paris or Berlin. Interresting and impressing buildings.
this is Dvortsovaya Square. ( N59 56 17.6 E30 18 46.9 )






Waiting at a rail gate, a train to St.Petersburg passed.


Coastline of the gulf of finland, northwest of St.Petersburg near Zelenogorsk


russian logic ? turn to right, but careful ?


railway crossing


church of Roschino


The first 'russian-driven' BMW, we saw in russia was on this advertisement.


Next day we visited the centre of St.Petersburg, A day of sightseeing by bike, Peter and Paul Fortress:




Petrovskaya Nab.


Aurora Cruiser, with her canonshot in 1917 the October Revolution of 1917 was startet.
 

bridge over the Neva(troitskiy most)


hermitagemuseum


Statue in front of St. Isaac's Cathedral


Bride with her wedding party, in front is grandma, proud and content.


fleet canal


bridge over the fleet canal


Voskrenesia Khristova Church


statue of Field Marshal Kutuzov


in front of Moscow railstation


Smolny cathedral



Finland railstation with Lenin in front



Next day, we left St.Petersburg, Olgino Camping ( N59 59 40.9 E30 06 25.0 ), passing Slantsy
near the Russian/Estonia Border


Russian train


MIG 15 - Monument


Beach near Spitsyno(RU) ( N58 31 33.9 E27 51 17.1 )


Kiosk


Back to Poland, in Goldap near the border to Lithuania


Rain stopped me, but only for a short time, waiting in a busstop house


Poland: land of storks.....




and
Poland: land of tree avenues


back home...


3. Links about Russia(in german language)