As mentioned in my previous message, i arrived in Lviv on Thursday April 22nd. I had so hoped to have a warm spring by now, but the reality was that I entered the Ukraine in cold conditions, even ice rain:-( I had sent Oleg an sms that i was close to Lviv; he was waiting for me on the outskirts with his mini van. We managed to load the bike and bags into the car and comfortably i drove through hectic traffic to Oleg's new place he had only moved in the day before. I met with his team of translators the following day in Oleg's new office which he was going to move into that Saterday. It was especially nice to meet Maria and Serhiy (holding their kids in the picture below), who worked with me during my days in SDL. In between Oleg found some time to show me around the city and organize me a train ticket to Novosibirsk. On Saterday, I strolled around beautiful old Lviv, a city dating back to the 13th century.
On Sunday, i started my 1000 km long biking experience through the Ukraine. Weather had improved by now, and temperatures were climbing overe 20 degrees. On the second day i was invited to Ivan's house. Ivan and his son Andriy are friends of Oleg and follow the same Ukrainian martial arts Oleg teaches in. Here too, i was met on the outskirts of town, and could throw my gear into the car and meet up wityh Andriy who escorted me to the house. Ivan made delicicious cherry tea from twigs and blossom cut from the tree.
The following days i had a strong tailwind which allowed me to do up to 150 km a day, I found beautifully hidden places to camp, mainly in the fields far away from the main road. On occansion i spent the night in people's yards, where i was given food in the morning. The more i continued east, the better the infrastructure became, I no longer had to swirl around pot holes or large cracks in the asphalt, which was a serieus issue in the west of the Ukraine.
On May 3rd, i arrived one day ahead of schedule in Kharkiv. Today, May 6th, I catch the train to Russia: 3 days on the train. I hope that 2 books and the ipod keep me from getting bored stiff:-)
Some data: Total cycling days: 24 Total km: 2.941 Total cycling hours: 139 Altitude meters: 15.884
In the new office: Dennis (Oleg's brother), Maria, Serhiy, 2 translators (whose names I have fogotten:-() and Oleg.
Lviv. The old part was built in the Austria-Hungarian kingdom era.
One of Lviv's many beautiful churches. On these first wearm weekend of the year, many wedding ceremonies took place.
A refreshing cold beer:-)
A snap shot: the guy in front painting and in the back ground one of the many newly weds posing for the photographer.
Ivan, the host, on the right, posing with Andriy standing next to me. The other people are friends of the family who chauffeured my bags to the house.
A grave yard Ukrainian style. Many of them are huge, some over a kilometer long, with an abundance of plastic flowers.
One of my camp sites
One of the families i stayed with.
Reacties op bericht (2)
08-05-2010
hello
Hé Toon, Zoals we kunnen zien, verloopt alles prima met jou! Hopelijk was de treinreis niet te saai en heb je een beetje van het uitzicht kunnen genieten (en van je boeken) We zouden soms wel bij je willen zijn (rustig een pintje drinken in een verre stad) Enjoy! ps: superlief de bloemen voor Barbara.
08-05-2010, 11:19 geschreven door sandra
06-05-2010
Ik ben zo trots op je
Dag Schatje,
Al hoor ik je elke dag via sms, skype of telefoon, toch wil ik je ook via deze weg laten weten hoe trots ik op je ben. (Nen echte vent zo wildcamperen !!! ) Veel plezier in het verre Rusland, maak nog mooie foto's, wees voorzichtig en weet dat ik ontzettend van je hou !
) 
