Days 34-35 Vladivostok
It feels good to have a safe depot where to stay. It ain't glamorous but it for sure is safe and kind of cozy. Actually its roof is the floor of a cinema. So in the evenings one can hear movies. Mainly explosions etc. But I don't care. Annie is on a secure parking place nearby. Only 50RUB/night.
Tuesday morning Eddie and Mirco went to do the custom clearances with Edward. It took the whole day. Edward told that last time when he was there to help an Italian guy few weeks ago it was much faster. But this time there was a new officer who was extremely precise about everything. And it took time - whole day.
I left the clubhouse at the same time as the guys. First I drove to see Heinrich and Anna at their "car cleaning station". They have torn their Toyota in to small pieces to get it clean. We chatted a while and I continued to the bike repair shop. Riding in the traffic started to feel easier a bit by bit and in no while I found the place.
The mechanic took Annie under work and found the reason for stuck brakes. One of the 4 pistons in 2 calibers was a bit stuck. It seems it had been stuck for a while as the brake pads were nearly gone and they were only 10000 km old. The mechanic cleaned the brakes, changed the pads and brake fluid and also rear pads. The new pads are "cintered" whatever that means. Guy on the counter said they are better. I had a choice to take Italian or Chinese pads. I thought maybe Italian is less bad.
I got to the clubhouse sometime in the afternoon and wrote the previous blog entry. I had some trouble with the WI-FI so I couldn't upload all the photos I wanted. I had to delay the poblishing to get at least some photos there.
At around five Edward had got away from the customs and asked me to join him and his 12 year old son to local Speedway Championship finals. I've never been to speedway races before and I have to admit it was kind of interesting. The track is oval and there are four bikes on the track at the same time. One round is about 15 seconds and they drive four rounds in one heat. And they drive fast! And loud!
At least four times someone fell and the ambulance had to arrive. Ones the fall was so bad they had to take the driver to hospital. Even the fence around the oval broke a bit. But that's racing. You have to accept the risks of getting injured or even killed.
I was surprised how much feeling the audience had on the race. An older man next to me was shouting and screaming and jumping and whatever the whole time. I think he lost his voice completely during the race. And he wasn't the only one with feeling!
The competition was very even. Both teams (Vladivostok and some other) had about the same amount of points until the last 5 rounds. Then Vladivostok started gaining points a lot faster. In the end Vladivostok won clearly.
After this experience I have to say I wont be a big fan of speedway but damn those guys can ride!
In the evening we went to a rock bar with Kirill as it was the last night of Eddie and Mirco in Vladivostok. Well I went only with Kirill and Eddie as Mirco had somehow found some local girl on Sunday and fallen in love. So he has stayed in her apartment the last nights.
Wednesday was rainy. I mean super rainy. Edward took me and Eddie to the ship terminal. We said farewell to Mirco and Eddie and I went with Edward to a car and motorcycle museum. There were some really old and interesting motorcycles. Like some Harley-Davidsons USA gave to Soviet Union as aid in the war against Germany.
After the museum we headed to the Russian Island. As it has been military zone for decades, there were huge coastal defense guns. I really mean huge. Caliber was 305mm. One gun station included 3 guns and needed 75 men to operate. Is that crazy or what?
In the afternoon Edward had to go to work so he dropped me to a pizzeria near the clubhouse. I ate a large, good, cheesy pizza and went to the clubhouse for a little nap. At eight in the evening Edward picked me up and took me to couple of sightseeing places. A beautiful scenery over Vladivostok by night.
Tuesday morning Eddie and Mirco went to do the custom clearances with Edward. It took the whole day. Edward told that last time when he was there to help an Italian guy few weeks ago it was much faster. But this time there was a new officer who was extremely precise about everything. And it took time - whole day.
"We waited and waited and waited..."
I left the clubhouse at the same time as the guys. First I drove to see Heinrich and Anna at their "car cleaning station". They have torn their Toyota in to small pieces to get it clean. We chatted a while and I continued to the bike repair shop. Riding in the traffic started to feel easier a bit by bit and in no while I found the place.
The mechanic took Annie under work and found the reason for stuck brakes. One of the 4 pistons in 2 calibers was a bit stuck. It seems it had been stuck for a while as the brake pads were nearly gone and they were only 10000 km old. The mechanic cleaned the brakes, changed the pads and brake fluid and also rear pads. The new pads are "cintered" whatever that means. Guy on the counter said they are better. I had a choice to take Italian or Chinese pads. I thought maybe Italian is less bad.
That kind of lifter might be handy at home too
The only clean parts in Annie
I got to the clubhouse sometime in the afternoon and wrote the previous blog entry. I had some trouble with the WI-FI so I couldn't upload all the photos I wanted. I had to delay the poblishing to get at least some photos there.
At around five Edward had got away from the customs and asked me to join him and his 12 year old son to local Speedway Championship finals. I've never been to speedway races before and I have to admit it was kind of interesting. The track is oval and there are four bikes on the track at the same time. One round is about 15 seconds and they drive four rounds in one heat. And they drive fast! And loud!
How can they do that?
At least four times someone fell and the ambulance had to arrive. Ones the fall was so bad they had to take the driver to hospital. Even the fence around the oval broke a bit. But that's racing. You have to accept the risks of getting injured or even killed.
I was surprised how much feeling the audience had on the race. An older man next to me was shouting and screaming and jumping and whatever the whole time. I think he lost his voice completely during the race. And he wasn't the only one with feeling!
The competition was very even. Both teams (Vladivostok and some other) had about the same amount of points until the last 5 rounds. Then Vladivostok started gaining points a lot faster. In the end Vladivostok won clearly.
After this experience I have to say I wont be a big fan of speedway but damn those guys can ride!
In the evening we went to a rock bar with Kirill as it was the last night of Eddie and Mirco in Vladivostok. Well I went only with Kirill and Eddie as Mirco had somehow found some local girl on Sunday and fallen in love. So he has stayed in her apartment the last nights.
Rock!
Wednesday was rainy. I mean super rainy. Edward took me and Eddie to the ship terminal. We said farewell to Mirco and Eddie and I went with Edward to a car and motorcycle museum. There were some really old and interesting motorcycles. Like some Harley-Davidsons USA gave to Soviet Union as aid in the war against Germany.
I like Annie more
After the museum we headed to the Russian Island. As it has been military zone for decades, there were huge coastal defense guns. I really mean huge. Caliber was 305mm. One gun station included 3 guns and needed 75 men to operate. Is that crazy or what?
I feel kind of small between those pipes
It's useless after 50 shots
Made in Russia - before revolution
In the afternoon Edward had to go to work so he dropped me to a pizzeria near the clubhouse. I ate a large, good, cheesy pizza and went to the clubhouse for a little nap. At eight in the evening Edward picked me up and took me to couple of sightseeing places. A beautiful scenery over Vladivostok by night.
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