Lots of pictures I see from the Ukraine, show bods riding around on non-GS type bikes, all reasonably modern. These include a girl on a Z1100R, which (whilst not modern) is certainly not a GS or similar. She writes a sort of video blog about her awesome adventures. I won’t be buying a Ural, just to go.
The American author of the book, The Ravine, has been kind enough to fill in some details for me about the village of Miropol, which is (not surprisingly) not on any tourist agenda that I know of. It was reading her book (and a long held desire to go to see Kiev) that sparked the idea of going to the Ukraine in the first place. The maps are turning up, the Rough Guide book is downloaded to iBooks and a rough route there and back has been hacked out. Roll on 2022.
Next week, I will be asking what the weather will be like on a specific day in early autumn 2022. I’ll also be asking (though demanding is more often better) if anyone can recommend things to see and do along the way, between Calais and Kiev and, of course, along a different way back, too. Biker friendly cafes, all along the route, are a must have, so get them ready. I’ve been thinking of taking a 35 kg chain and 20 kg padlock, anyone have any experience, beyond dropping one (or both) on their foot?