Near Kiev

Started out this morning in the dry and headed in the Kiev direction. All was well for the first 5 minutes until the local police pointed out that the speed limit in ‘the village’ was 60kph. He showed us a thing that looked like a wooden speed gun and alas the number said ‘75’. As there was no houses for about half a mile and that the road was a divided dual carriageway we concluded that it was not in the village and there was the other disputed fact that we were not doing 75kph. We are a prime target as there are no other motorcycled here worth talking about. Everyone notices the bikes and stop and look. Anyway the three cops surrounded us and asked what happens in this case in Scotland. We told him, of coarse, we always got a warning. They threatened us with ‘protocol’ and had a small discussion after which they told us to get on our way….Nice? We continued on the potholes which is the main road to Kiev. There is signs of major road construction but a lack of constructors. Social life of the road comprises of switching off you engine ant a contra-flow and have a half hour chat with the workies. Everyone asks how much the bikes cost so we now tell them that they are ‘pro-kat’ or hired.

 

Anyway, continued on the potholes that got filled with water that constantly pours from the Ukrainian sky. They tell us that there was no rain for over 6 weeks …….until the day we arrived. It is still raining. Got to about 3pm when we saw the cops lining up for another stop. Alas we right! This time we overtook on a non overtaking area at 116kph. Dependant on the length of stay we may be getting a more serious charge each time we get stopped…so maybe murder next week??? This time they took Gordon to the car and left me with another chatty cop. They checked the papers and then not much for me for about 5 mins. Gordon shouted to me from the car and told me that they would not ‘protocol’ us for 100euros. Gordon had not agreed and went into his glove compartment grabbed his pen and notebook and asked him for his name. By this time I got to the car and Gordon told me of the ridiculous request. I also said and emphatic  ‘no’ and also asked him for his name and station. He looked, by this time like a bullied schoolboy and Gordon grabbed the documents back from him. He grabbed them back and I started to rant about harassment. He threw the documents back to us and told us to leave. His 2 friends who were outside pretending to stop other cars jumped in and they sped off tooting the horn as they left. We will tell you all about tomorrow’s road traffic offences which are being concocted as we speak.

 

Attached a photo from Ukraine

 

Fun to com……The TGM bad guys.