Friday 17 May 2013

I'll make it to the moon if I have to crawl...

Strong in spirit, weak in the brain...

Thats how someone described me the other day. Just proof read my post from last night and made some corrections, to be fair it had been a long day. One hundred miles of cycling through rural Russia in the burning heat must have taken its toll cause last nights effort looks like it was written by a toddler.

Anyway we reached our destination, Novgorod, at around 7pm yesterday. Our little group was joined by about twenty people on the outskirts of the town and we all rode into the centre with a police escort! Classic.

 The Russian police. Stern, stern but fair ;).
 This local guy followed us for the last 30kms, didn't speak a word of English but he seemed pretty stoked about the fact that an Englishman had come to his village.

After another speech we rode about 2kms down the road where there was a crowd waiting. I got interviewed by the local tv station (the novelty has kinda worn off now) with a local girl (kate) acting as a translator.
Kate, me and Arthur!

Then it was off to the hotel, where I sat down to pen last nights entry. About half way through writing it the tour guide came in and said that his boss had been on the phone and I wasn't allowed to cycle with them any more! I thought this might happen as I was getting a fair bit of attention and I think this was detracting from the publicity the group was getting. The guy was very apologetic and said I could follow the group and stay at the same places and that he would give me a map of the route, I'm just not allowed to appear on TV or give any interviews. Suits me down to the ground, I prefer cycling on my own anyway.

This morning I felt dog rough. The weather didn't promise much either with rain coming down by the bucketload but hey, fortune favours the brave right? So I put my waterproofs on and hit the road, about two hours after the group had left the hotel. The rain filled the pot holes in the road making it impossible to gauge the depth of them resulting in two snakebites within the first 15km.

This picture says it all..
Not a happy bunny. Who's idea was it to cycle to Russia?

Decided to do a bit of the old tourist trail today, some great old cathedrals and churches around Novgorod aswell as a massive kremlin in the town itslef
After a few hours on the bike I got into the swing of things and landed at the hotel before the group arrived! I think they had a long lunch and a few of them looked like they were hurting a bit.
The Russian branch of Mcdonanlds needed some work...

"Suffer the pain of discipline, or suffer the pain of regret."

Take it easy kids, and leave me some comments:).


9 comments:

  1. Put your chebs away Butler, Jesus! Looks like a good time pal, whens your visa through and what route you taking back? Booking some leave the next few days so whatever time I've got we'll squeeze in Tan Hill and Snowdon? You can drag me and Getafix up to get the famous picture. Keep the blogs coming mate. Stay safe.

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  2. Hi Ralf! It was very interesting to read your blog:)
    It seems that you are TV star now and have some problems with popularity:)It happens...
    I wish you happy trip, meeting with good people and sunny, not hot weather.
    Thank you that you are not lazy and created so witty and detailed blog:)
    I am waiting forward for the next your reports:)
    Good luck!

    P.S. probably you have not seen yet: http://www.ntv.ru/novosti/593000 -
    one of TV reports about the start of cycling tour in Saint-Petersburg. You are on 48 second:)

    Katya from Saint-Petersburg

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    1. Hi Katya!

      Great to hear from you! Thanks again for the food and good company in Saint-Petersburg. I'm glad you are enjoying the blog. Hope to meet you and the gang again one day and with any luck I'll be speaking better Russian!

      All the best and happy cycling!!

      Ralph

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  3. Just seen the video, my personal favourite part is where you try to squeeze in for a group photo but within seconds get ushered out or something. Hahaha. My Ruski is a bit rusty ( ;) ) but does it say "RALPH BUTLER, A STUDENT FROM BIRMINGHAM! FUTURE ENGINEER!" ? Careful mate, they might snap you up for their space program. Fairplay pal.

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  4. All at the Three Horse Shoes tonight were more than somewhat impressed and following your Blog - brilliant stuff! JB

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  5. Been following your blog for a bit now. Well done on the trip! Sounds like you are enjoying the challenge whilst meeting some interesting people and sight seeing! Keep it up lad and I look forward to your next blog entry

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  6. Hahaha, Ralph on russian TV report, made my day.

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  8. Ralph: I'm looking for information on cycle touring in Russia. If you can help out any - routes, organizations, equipment - I'd appreciation it. Maybe you could answer through Google+?

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