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Bulletin Number 1 Monday 29th August 2011.
You will know that six adventurous (some say mad) Citroen Specials Club members have been planning a trip to Russia.
Well we have now set off and this our first progress report
The weather has been kind and we have suffered no mechanical problems to date.
Ken’s Bamboo fuel gauge is working well (more about that in a later bulletin)
We arrived in the Czech Republic yesterday and are now avoiding motorways in favour of Citroen Special
friendly country roads.
We have crossed 6 countries, covered 800 miles and the adventure is now beginning to feel very real.
We stayed last night in Tabor (60 miles south of Prague), the town has a beautiful main square where we found most of Tabor's attractions.
The bill for dinner including wine and beers, for all six of us came to around £40!
Then it was back to our Hotel to dream about Red Square and The Kremlin, Oh yes and those tough looking
guys in their red and gold embellished uniforms.
Pat and Dicky Dawes (Tri-pacer), Ken and Maureen Edwards (Lomax) and Colin and Lynn Seddon
(Lomax).
Bulletin
Number 2 - Thursday 1st September 2011.
The first part
of our drive across Poland went well but then the quality of the roads deteriorated dramatically.
We pressed on to our accommodation which turned out to be a monastery, historic and atmospheric but for one of the party
(guess who) the ban on the use of alcohol or tobacco on the premises was very hard work.
Sadly that was not to be the end of the rough road story when we discovered that Ken’s
back wheel had lost spokes and we were unable to find a solution. Ken and Maureen have stayed with the car and are
awaiting the help of the R.A.C.
The rest of us have continued into the Ukraine.
We are all hoping that we will be able to join up again in Kiev where we will be spending two nights.
Goodnight from Poland/Ukraine.
Pat for:
Pat and Dicky Dawes (Tri-pacer), Ken and Maureen Edwards (Lomax) and
Colin and Lynn Seddon (Lomax).
Bulletin
Number 3 – Monday 4th September 2011.
Hi All,
We (Pat,Dicky,Colin and Lynn) are now in the Ukraine, Ken and Maureen are still in Poland waiting for a new tyre .
We are trying to sort out some insurance for Russia, we gave up trying to get insurance for the Ukraine and drove across (very cautiously) with none.
we’re still smiling and hope to join up with Ken and Maureen later in the week.
Love to all XXX.
Pat and Dicky Dawes (Tri-pacer), Ken and Maureen Edwards (Lomax) and Colin and Lynn Seddon (Lomax).
Bulletin
Number 4 - Wednesday 7th September 2011.
Hi all,
We (Pat,Dicky, Colin and Lynn) have now arrived safely in Moscow.
Crossing the border into Russia took us three and a half hours which was quite stressful, on the good side the guards all seemed O.K.
The weather has been pretty good unlike the roads which have been appalling.
The so called Motorways are full of and I mean full of ruts the only thing worse about the driving is the other vehicles which appear from all sides and in all directions and seem to be piloted by completely mad people on drugs.
Worst time was coming out of Kiev when traffic was very heavy.
We managed to get a green card Insurance with cover for Russia at a cost of 60 euro’s.
We are pleased to report that Ken and Maureen are now back on the road after fitting a new rear tyre which they had sent over from the U.K.
The plan is to meet up with them on Friday or Saturday 8th/9th in St Petersburg all being well.
We are all well but tired, for example we covered 350 miles Tuesday plus the arduous border crossing. Love to all XX.
Pat and Dicky Dawes (Tri-pacer), Ken and Maureen Edwards (Lomax) and Colin and Lynn Seddon (Lomax)
Bulletin number 5: Saturday 10th September 2011
Hi all,
The four of us have arrived safely in St Petersburg and are delighted to announce that Ken and Maureen arrived before us having fitted their new tyre
Now we are six again!
We have now covered over 3000 miles and yesterday encountered our first rain, it was very wet as we were arriving at our hotel in Valdai
(note from ed, According to google maps Valdai is in Spain or France, so either they are off route (by a few 1000k) or it’s a typo, I’m guessing the second.)
Checked in here at our Hotel in St Petersburg then it poured down but it stayed dry to check in, that’s what you call timing.
More later
Love to all XX
Pat and Dicky Dawes (Tri-pacer), Ken and Maureen Edwards (Lomax) and Colin and Lynn Seddon (Lomax).
Bulletin number 6: Sunday 11th September 2011.
Hi all,
Although the previous bulletin mentioned that Ken and Maureen had arrived before us in St Petersburg we hadn’t actually met up.
But first a little more about our experience of driving in Russia, It’s worth repeating that the Russian drivers are totally insane, cutting us up as a matter of course and even worse when they are taking photographs, unbelievable.
Lorry drivers are great allowing us plenty of space.
White van men seem to be the same the whole world over, impatient is an understatement.
The Police have just smiled and waved us through no problems there.
Ken and Maureen have had an interesting trip obtaining hotel rooms and covering a lot of miles through Lithuania and Latvia.
Unfortunately they now have some serious issues with their wheels, while driving along a quiet road in Lithuania they were cut up and their front passenger side was clouted, they also have less serious problem with some screws holding the boot lid on which is sorted for now with straps,
I’ll tempt fate and say that apart from the above all the cars seem O.K. but the cars will certainly need a re-build when we return home.
We are all together again now and that’s great.
We are sitting in the lounge on the 18th floor of our Hotel with St Petersburg spread out before us with fireworks going off.
This feeling makes the whole trip worthwhile.
Finland tomorrow, that's if they let us over the border
We hope you are enjoying receiving the information.
Love to all XX .
Pat and Dicky Dawes (Tri-pacer), Ken and Maureen Edwards (Lomax) and Colin and Lynn Seddon (Lomax)
Bulletin Number 7: Sunday 11th September 2011.
(Note from ed: the following is a little out of sequence but I have left it pretty well as received by text to preserve some of the raw energy)
Notes from Maureen.
Two wheels on our wagon we were going nowhere.
R.A.C. and a chat to the monks and we got sorted over a few days.
We were left alone as the others had to continue onward bound to the Ukraine and Moscow.
After many calls and visits and trips with Polish service men, we have had a replacement wheel couriered out from U.K.
We found a route via and Lithuania and Latvia, no currency no maps or knowledge of the countries, we headed for St Petersburg direct to meet others.
With three wheels now on our wagon we hit the road and aim to reach St Petersburg in four days. Left Poland, very hot which, quickly changed to rain, after more rain with no hotels booked we aimed to stop at 4:00 but with none in sight we continued through towns. The Polish people were very helpful, pulled up in cars to help and direct.
Service in restaurant was very bad, duvet stitched together but better than sleeping in car.
Next day reached Lithuania, lovely people, beautiful towns, country folk poor but smiling and loved the car.
Petrol station cashiers and girls from cafes ran out jumping up and down to pose by the Lomax.
Dogs walking on roadsides of motorway, goats and cows on front lawns.
Night 2 found (with help again) a lovely hotel, only had a luxury room we coped brill.
Evening meal, excellent service and very cheap, sorry to move on.
Latvia next stop. Very poor scenery, changed immediately after border but the old shacks had satellite TV!
Drove to Russian border, roads so busy and scary.
At one stage, at the border they waved us through, as one lad did not know what to do with us!
He laughed and shook his head, lots of smiles, not what I expected, 2 hrs, a poke about in our boot and we were in...
M20 was filled with manic drivers, Ken holding the steering wheel so tight, me in the suicide seat, as near the centre of Moscow cars were coming up by the side of us via the hard shoulder and overtaking without a care.
Leaving our hotel we were nearly hit off the road, this broke our wheel trim and luckily we missed the curb, crazy drivers, awful day and glad to reach St Petersburg a day early ready to be reunited after 8 days.
4 days of serious driving, rain and mad roads but we caught up and have visited 2 countries not expected to see...
Moscow will have to wait for another day
Love from Maureen
Bulletin number 8: Wednesday 14th September 2011.
A brief note from our intrepid travellers,
“We are now on the Ferry travelling from Finland to Germany. We are all together and everything is going well”
Love to all Pat XX.
Bulletin number 9: Thursday 15th September 2011.
We are now in Germany after a long crossing from Finland (32 hours)
Weather mixed and quite chilly, this is our last night together.
We leave tomorrow from Holland to catch the overnight ferry to Harwich.
It feels good to be back in Western Europe.
Love from the travellers XX
(Note from Web Editor: We hope to have a complete page of stories and pictures as soon as the travellers have recovered from their travels.)
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