Russian Border to Ulan Ude

The usual fight to get thru a border, these Russians know what they're doing though, this customs official spoke great English and turned the whole process into a fun experience, she even checked the vin plate on the bike. I'm gradually coming to the conclusion that I like the Russians they have this "macho face" thing going on but on every occasion when we've got to know them better they're great fun and very interested in what we're doing. It's amazing that for most of my life our two cultures have been threatening to destroy the world supposedly because of our differences and yet we're exactly the same, the same soaps on the tv, the same interest in football, motorcycling, the same interest in alcohol. God only knows what the human race would do if we ran across some species that was completely different. Kev had a big off on the road from the border I didn't see it but it seems he's lucky to be in one piece. Apparently a left-hand bend with a broken up bumpy surface forced him onto the gravel the panniers ran down the top the concrete posts eventually flicking him off in between two metal posts holding up a road sign, his leg is badly bruised but otherwise he's unhurt, lucky or what? What with his off in the Kariciom desert he is without the luckiest unlucky person I know. The bike's a different matter the crash bars have punched a hole in the engine casing on the right hand side which looks bad but doesn't seem to be leaking oil but most of the rest of it looks in one piece, these bars definitely protect the upper body and radiator from the worst of the impacts.