10-10-2006

Abatskoye - Tyumen

I slept well. I look out the window to check on my bike … great, it kept snowing during the night and it is still snowing. The relentless wind is also still blowing in the same direction. My bike is covered in snow. After my shower I start setting the wheels in motion. I talk to the hotel administrators and ask for directions to a service station for my Ural. They scratch their heads, start calling people and ask some guys that are working nearby. After an hour of asking around, they tell me to wait until the lunch break and then somebody will tow me to a service station. And indeed, at 12 o’clock my Ural is hooked up to a Lada Niva and we drive to the service station two blocks away. The snow is about 10cm deep. I only need to wait a little while before I can push my Ural in to the shop. After the usual questions, laughs and congratulations they start working on my bike. It doesn’t take long for the mechanic to make it going again. And all it took was 2 new spark plugs. I feel silly, but I’m glad it runs again. Cost: 200 rubles. I buy an extra set of spark plugs just in case it happens again on my way to Irbit. I just NEED the new air filter box.

I go back to the hotel to get my luggage and continue my ride to Tyumen. My darling Nadya has arranged a contact for me there. The ride to Tyumen is cold. It keeps snowing to about 100-150 kms from Tyumen. The clouds open up and it is good to see the sun again even though she is already very low on the horizon. I stop at a kafe to eat and try to dry my socks and boots. They are soaking wet again and my feet are freezing. Doug left me his travel hair dryer, so that should to the trick. In my best Russian I manage to get the kafe offitsyant to let me use a power outlet. I take of my boots and socks and start warming my feet. That is of course as far as the story goes, since the damn hair dryer just does not want to blow any more. I’m sorry, Doug, I don’t know what happened, I will send you a new one once I am in Belgium. At least my feet are warmer now. I just put on my socks and boots, thank all involved and go on my way.

Once I reach Tyumen I contact Lyosha. Lyosha is on the Sinus help list and Nadya has already talked to him to explain my story. We agree to meet at the main post office which is conveniently located on Lenin Square in the centre of the city. He lives nearby and he escorts me to his home. After dinner we go to park the bike in a garage about 5 kms away. Not really a problem. I also experience a typical Russian tradition: just stretch out your arm at the side of the road and eventually a car will stop. Naturally this is not an official taxi, but it if he wants to go your way and the price is right, you just hop in and of he goes. Lyosha’s home is a work in progress and has been that for a couple of years. He lost his job during the renovation of his flat and nothing has happened since. Anyway, it is none of my business and I am just thankful and glad to have a place to sleep.