Still in our hotel in Berdians'k - 13th June 2009

We are still waiting to make the move to Russia next Monday 15^th June. Our hotel (Hotel Arena) is a great wee place. Bikes parked in a secure yard, 24 hour reception and bikes right outside the apartments. (Co-ordinates for GPS for fellow travellers, (N 46° 44.632 - E 036° 48.122). Tel.8 (050 ) 420-47-20. They treat us like part of the family here and we are having a group photo today (Friday) ( Photo). Vasiliy is translating an explanation of our journey into Russian which we will put on the inside of our top-boxes. This will help when trying to tell the locals what we are doing. People think we are crazy. Olga, who runs the café here has never been out of this small town. She is about 25 years old. People do not travel much here so our journey seems amazing to them. Olga is fascinated by our photos of the places we have been to and of home. We visited the next major town from here which is about 200km. She was wanting to see photos of it as she has never been there. She is however, our Russian language teacher and it is now flowing out like natives……the 6 words that we can say that is!!! We have got to know some local bikers who are lovely people who look after us (Photo). We meet them most evenings for a beer (Sach, Sacha, Sacha and Marianne). They clubbed in and bought us a shot glass for drinking vodka with the Russians. A nice gift that we will bring back as a memento of our time her. Had an awesome thunder storm last night and lightning like I have never seen before. Its slowly clearing today and the sun has just come out. The mosquitoes have started to eat us and that is one thing we are not looking forward to further east. By the way, Graeme Bruce…my hair is not grey… I am in my blonde phase so please change the order from ‘Just for Men’ to Laurielle Touch of Blonde…” Because I’m Worth It” We met up with some people at the hotel and shared a drink with them. Turned out the bloke was a Russian police officer…small world!

On 14th June, we headed up towards the Ukraine/Russian border at Novoazovs'k. We found a great wee motel run by the lovely Ira (see photo). Cheap, comfortable and a stone's throw from the beach, you'll find this terrific accomodation at N47 05.381, E037 47.047