Day 26 – Omsk to Kuybyshev

High Point : Finally Getting out of Omsk after a 2 hours drive around the town!!

Low Point : Realising it was “slightly” my fault that we were driving around Omsk for 2 hours…

No Point : Why does Steve ALWAYS leave one sock around on the floor when he leaves anywhere.

Russian Word of the day : Imodium…. Thank God its pronounced the same !!

Authors Comments :

Today as they say in the business is a slow news day…… The road from Omsk to Kuybyshev is as straight as an arrow and as monotonous as any we have used over the past 12 days. To add to this very sobering fact, Steve is currently asleep to my left (if he takes up this much room in his bed than I feel sorry for Amy) Ross is to my right nursing a nasty hangover and Dave Orders currently has the kind of reliance of Imodium that you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. Its also our first day of rain in Russia and I’m crossing my fingers Martha is now ok after being patched up in Lithuania after the stage 1 crew got soaked through parts of eastern Europe.

Its not that moral is low at all, far from it in fact, but I am currently experiencing one of those rare moments in the back of Martha that give me the chance to share my thoughts on our journey so Far.

My overall impression of Russia has been super positive, however to my great surprise this has been due to the people we have meet more the things we have seen. Travelling point to point and City to City has made it difficult for us to appreciate all that these great Russian Monoloths have to offer as we pass through each one. Each town has a historical centre and numerous museums and galleries that would unveil its past to us but (to date) we’ve been unable to experience them for we arrive too late most nights and leave too early the following day.

 To say that Russian towns have a certain charm is like saying that Chelsea play nice attractive football. However, both are functional, practical and very affective at what they do. Currently, I think we feel most at home out on the open road (think littlest Hobo..) The infinite expanses of green pasture land that surround each road have become our “comfort blanket” when then big city’s Insane drivers scare us away with manoeuvres that would put Mr Schumacher to shame.

The people however are a complete revelation to me. I must admit that my preconceived impression of Russians is that they would be as friendly and as talkative as Londons Northern Line tube passengers… in rush hour… Thankfully I can now tell you that this is not the case at all. So many times we have been saved by a friendly voice actually asking if they can help us in broken English.

In truth, it has been really useful for us to know how to speak a little Russian, I think the locals appreciate the fact that we try (Steve still loves the word “Ouchen” meaning “very” to describe everything) and Its amazing how far a smile and a laugh will get you around this world.

Now would be a timely opportunity for me to thank everyone that has helped us travel so far through this great land, there are now far too many people to mention individually but you all know who you are, and from everyone here on Stage 2… “Spacey-bar!”

Finally and without sounding to obvious, Russia is a big big (BIG!) place, yesterday we worked out that we’ve now driven further east around the world than India. And yet for some reason Because its Russia it still feels like a very distant part of Europe. We now currently lie 6 hours ahead of London, the same as Bangkok  in South East Asia, we’ve crossed 3 time zones already in Russia and yet you could conceivably still cross another 6 … Its truly amazing!

The distances between the small towns are now getting so long that the chat in the cab has become even more random (when the other crew members are awake). However, just to show you how we are staying “sane” on stage 2 recent topics of conversation have had us discuss whether or not the world will be a better place in 100 years or not? 3 for yes 2 decided no…. What is your biggest secret you are currently holding against someone?…Talk about skeletons in the closet!!… and most importantly will Dave orders ever get a steady girlfriend…

….. Answers on a postcard please.

Das Sveedanya

James

P.S – As you can tell I wrote this a touch early yesterday in the cab and Last night while looking for a hotel we stumbled across officially the weirdest town on earth “BARABINSK” some of the crew are still a little freaked out by it all and the fact that we chose to spend the night in a truckers motel just off the main road tells you a lot about it. To help you guys understand it a little more I’ve asked the crew today to sum the town up in three words… “ Apocalyptic, Abandoned and Awesome!!”

JM

[flickr album=72157624720507870 num=30 size=Square]