Russian Artic Circle? Biggest city in the artic circle. Also another reason or 2 to visit the place or places on the way there and back or the area to be more precise. Area is a bit of a loose term, the Oblast more like it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_subjects_of_Russia
For no other reason than to go and see what it looks like in those places, and being a man of deep thought I had a bit of thinking. Not too much but just enough to think it can be done within my allotted holiday time. In total it can be 45 days in one long stretch.
A preliminary route (Wapping will be proud of me ):
https://goo.gl/maps/1FssgvNbAyaSAit49
I don't think Garmin has visited the place yet so it will be paper maps, like in the good ol' days with compass and all.
Budget about an average of 250 miles a day. Days off in the cities or shorter days to allow for visiting places, still to be researched. Circa 6500 miles (cue will it invalid my warranty questions ).
Administration I got so far with it:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/russia/entry-requirements
https://realrussia.co.uk/Visas/Russian#:~:text=A Russian visa for tourists,for a double-entry visa.
https://raja.fi/en/guidelines-for-travellers-at-border-crossings
Language barrier:
Love is the international language
I have an app for that.
Can't read or write that funny signs.
What will the weather be like:
Murmansk is in the artic circle. Clouds of midges and cold at night are expected. Days will be longer the further north you go. Best time to go, unsurprisingly June - August. Eat your heart out Wappers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murmansk
Do I need any kit for this:
Maybe new bootsies like these, https://johnleemotorcycles.co.uk/product/sidi-adventure-2-goretex-eu46brown-black/. My trusty Gaerne boots are due a replacement after years of fun and I will feel better with some extra protection. Crash in Europe and you are a mile away from a house, crash in the back of nowhere and the nights are cold.
Maybe a survival axe, just to be tactical.
Roads:
Can you believe it but it is tarmac all the way to Murmansk. Honestly I checked on Google Streetview.
And smooth tarmac
https://goo.gl/maps/iN6aruczcdqL2vAX8
Who has done something like this before:
https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/432187-A-Peek-Behind-The-Iron-Curtain
Other adventures are to be discovered and read about.
Is it dangerous:
Unwanted attention form mosquitoes and easy ladies making eyes at you or crashing into mama bear or worse, one of her cubs.
Russian drivers and vodka, unavoidable.
Getting sunburned/drenched (delete as appropriate) at a tedious border crossing while they confiscate your toothpaste.
Contingency plans if it all goes to fuck:
Have credit card and cash at hand.
Passport goes in the prison wallet
Is this a bit ambitious? Yes. Going at it alone, maybe. Feel free to talk me into it or out of it, better be sound advice or a cross will be burned on your lawn . I have permission from the boss lady. The missus, being Polish, is not very trusting of the Ruskies. She might need some convincing to join me, but she doesn't have the same holiday time as me. 2022 or 2023? Who knows what will happen. I have to go and visit my parents in SA and my sister in Namibia once this Covid shit is finished. But to me it is something I will have to do, now that I think about it. Even though it sounds a bit like a piss take, which it is being a 1200GSA owner. I do ride it you know.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_subjects_of_Russia
For no other reason than to go and see what it looks like in those places, and being a man of deep thought I had a bit of thinking. Not too much but just enough to think it can be done within my allotted holiday time. In total it can be 45 days in one long stretch.
A preliminary route (Wapping will be proud of me ):
https://goo.gl/maps/1FssgvNbAyaSAit49
I don't think Garmin has visited the place yet so it will be paper maps, like in the good ol' days with compass and all.
Budget about an average of 250 miles a day. Days off in the cities or shorter days to allow for visiting places, still to be researched. Circa 6500 miles (cue will it invalid my warranty questions ).
Administration I got so far with it:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/russia/entry-requirements
https://realrussia.co.uk/Visas/Russian#:~:text=A Russian visa for tourists,for a double-entry visa.
https://raja.fi/en/guidelines-for-travellers-at-border-crossings
Language barrier:
Love is the international language
I have an app for that.
Can't read or write that funny signs.
What will the weather be like:
Murmansk is in the artic circle. Clouds of midges and cold at night are expected. Days will be longer the further north you go. Best time to go, unsurprisingly June - August. Eat your heart out Wappers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murmansk
Do I need any kit for this:
Maybe new bootsies like these, https://johnleemotorcycles.co.uk/product/sidi-adventure-2-goretex-eu46brown-black/. My trusty Gaerne boots are due a replacement after years of fun and I will feel better with some extra protection. Crash in Europe and you are a mile away from a house, crash in the back of nowhere and the nights are cold.
Maybe a survival axe, just to be tactical.
Roads:
Can you believe it but it is tarmac all the way to Murmansk. Honestly I checked on Google Streetview.
And smooth tarmac
https://goo.gl/maps/iN6aruczcdqL2vAX8
Who has done something like this before:
https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/432187-A-Peek-Behind-The-Iron-Curtain
Other adventures are to be discovered and read about.
Is it dangerous:
Unwanted attention form mosquitoes and easy ladies making eyes at you or crashing into mama bear or worse, one of her cubs.
Russian drivers and vodka, unavoidable.
Getting sunburned/drenched (delete as appropriate) at a tedious border crossing while they confiscate your toothpaste.
Contingency plans if it all goes to fuck:
Have credit card and cash at hand.
Passport goes in the prison wallet
Is this a bit ambitious? Yes. Going at it alone, maybe. Feel free to talk me into it or out of it, better be sound advice or a cross will be burned on your lawn . I have permission from the boss lady. The missus, being Polish, is not very trusting of the Ruskies. She might need some convincing to join me, but she doesn't have the same holiday time as me. 2022 or 2023? Who knows what will happen. I have to go and visit my parents in SA and my sister in Namibia once this Covid shit is finished. But to me it is something I will have to do, now that I think about it. Even though it sounds a bit like a piss take, which it is being a 1200GSA owner. I do ride it you know.