Yay! I survived the Gulag road! Now that it’s over, it was actually quite an experience that I am glad I didn’t miss. I certainly learned a lot! About motorcycle riding in all sorts of ways, as well as the interesting history of the Gulag. Not many people know about them at all and particularly where they are, because they are such a dark and...
After breakfast we head for the Gulag. As with most things Russia.. for me anyway, I have never heard of a Gulag. Ilya from Magadan told us about this place, but again they all speak in Russian and I only pick up bits and pieces. Since then I have looked up more on the internet.. and we have also had a chance to visit a Gulag museum. I will give more...
Hey!! I’m riding on dirt roads!! Now that I look back at this photo, what a nice dirt road that was! If I only knew what was ahead of me…… I must dob myself in… A few months ago in the midst of my massive amounts of research planning this trip, I came across Walter Colebatch and his comments about adventure riding on a...
My new temporary life in Vladivostok is coming to an end.. but not without a bang! Lots of gunfire out in the bay from all those warships.. Walter had read on the internet that things were heating up between North Korea and South Korea, and since we are so close to North Korea, he thought maybe this had something to do with it. Wow, I’ve never been around big...
Welcome to Port Vladivostok!! The bikes FINALLY get released from Customs after a completely full day (9 – 5!!) of going from office to office, paperwork after paperwork… fees after fees.. but we have been officially released! No wonder the girls are grumpy, look at the work load on her desk!! Walter organizes a guy from the local motorcycle club...
It’s finally come time to leave South Korea and move on.. I like being on the move. Walter (whom I will be joining for the first portion of Russia: Magadan to Irktusk) and his bike have arrived from the UK via Seoul.. he gets his bike unpacked from the crate.. of which my tires are included! We are eventually putting the knobbies back on for the...
Sokcho is a great town, and the most fun place to visit in South Korea.. especially the best hike up a mountain I have ever had – in Seoraksan National Park. Literally only a 15 minute ride out of town.. I had heard about this park many times before I came, and so glad I had the opportunity to experience it. It is summer rain season, but knowing I was...
And on top of that.. a Welcoming Committee!!(photo is not on actual arrival.. but wish I had got one.. Both these English ladies had on their Australia shirts – they have great taste!) And after several days on my own, it was great to have someone to speak “English” with.. Anyway, these amazing adventurers (Sheonagh Ravensdale and Pat...
Sort of uneventful blog today.. but those will happen from time to time.. so I will keep this one a bit short. After studying my Lonely Planet book a bit, I left Busan for Gyeongju. Had a bit of a rough time getting there.. it was really hot, and not sure if it was the food, or adjusting to a new country, but sitting through the normal overcrowded city traffic...
Here are my first images of Busan or Pusan, South Korea.. (some use a B and some use a P.. ) Check out that strange cloud that engulfs the city! Getting off the boat entails lots of processes again, as I am in a new country! Just as I was walked through the process in Japan, a lovely Korean lady gave me a post it note to be at the front desk on the ferry at 5:40...