From Norway to Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Thread starter Berglid
- Start date
Berglid
Adventurer
In Verzuga we needed to resupply. We wanted some beer and some meet for dinner. It was not so easy to find something we were familiar with.
I picture in town. Me with my car.
Ladas and old military trucks were the most common vehicles we saw on our trip in Russia.
Our guide had to go home to do something, so we were going to spend the night in a small dessert he told us.
While the others were putting up their tents. Me and Jon were playing around with our cars. Then I saw a big tree. And of course we needed it for firewood. It was already on the ground. . I hooked the winch line around it and pulled it back to camp.
Our small campfire. In places like this you should never cut down trees. Because of the erosion the trees are disappearing here. It will become a big dessert; this is a big problem here in Russia.
I picture in town. Me with my car.
Ladas and old military trucks were the most common vehicles we saw on our trip in Russia.
Our guide had to go home to do something, so we were going to spend the night in a small dessert he told us.
While the others were putting up their tents. Me and Jon were playing around with our cars. Then I saw a big tree. And of course we needed it for firewood. It was already on the ground. . I hooked the winch line around it and pulled it back to camp.
Our small campfire. In places like this you should never cut down trees. Because of the erosion the trees are disappearing here. It will become a big dessert; this is a big problem here in Russia.
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Berglid
Adventurer
I’m enjoying our fire
Martins LC120 with the SWEES logos.
The next morning we were going to the coast line. First we crossed the dessert. There were a lot of wires in the sand, which easily could get stuck in our cars.
It was raining a lot this day. Not fun to go outside to take pictures.
The streets were made of soft sand.
We finally got to the coast line. This was as Far East that it was possible to travel with car on the Kola Peninsula.
Asbjørn
Martins LC120 with the SWEES logos.
The next morning we were going to the coast line. First we crossed the dessert. There were a lot of wires in the sand, which easily could get stuck in our cars.
It was raining a lot this day. Not fun to go outside to take pictures.
The streets were made of soft sand.
We finally got to the coast line. This was as Far East that it was possible to travel with car on the Kola Peninsula.
Asbjørn
campo
Adventurer
Hi Berglid
Thank you and congratulations for this magnificent presentation about your trip to Kola Peninsula.
Can I ask you some questions?
Would it be possible to organise this trip without the participation of an official Russian travel agency?
Is the price of such a trip in Russia more expensive than a similar trip in Europe would cost?
Is it worth to drive the whole way to the east coast of the peninsula?
Thank you Campo
Thank you and congratulations for this magnificent presentation about your trip to Kola Peninsula.
Can I ask you some questions?
Would it be possible to organise this trip without the participation of an official Russian travel agency?
Is the price of such a trip in Russia more expensive than a similar trip in Europe would cost?
Is it worth to drive the whole way to the east coast of the peninsula?
Thank you Campo
PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
Wow. What a nice trip and nice write-up.
Berglid
Adventurer
After reaching the coastline we followed it for a hour to get back to another road system.
It was a lot of fun. People were racing each other. Maybe not so smart, in case of sink holes or deep water.
We had to cross some small rivers but they were no problem getting over.
The last bit towards the shore was filled with water.
Then we got back to our favorite gas station. Not sure how many times we refilled here. Kola Peninsula is small. Now we are going to Kirovsk and then up into the mountains.
I had a lot of sand inside my car. Glad I got these.
We needed to take a stop in the forest to find out which way we were going to take.
It was a lot of fun. People were racing each other. Maybe not so smart, in case of sink holes or deep water.
We had to cross some small rivers but they were no problem getting over.
The last bit towards the shore was filled with water.
Then we got back to our favorite gas station. Not sure how many times we refilled here. Kola Peninsula is small. Now we are going to Kirovsk and then up into the mountains.
I had a lot of sand inside my car. Glad I got these.
We needed to take a stop in the forest to find out which way we were going to take.
Berglid
Adventurer
I think it would be possible. But we used Kola Travel because then they arranged everything for us. It was a lot easier. This is one of the cheapest overland trips I have done. So on the way home we did some shopping in some big sports outlets. Kola Peninsula was definitely worth it. Russia was really exiting. Now I really want to do the whole length of Russia. But it is smart to bring spare parts and good coffee. It was hard to find good coffee and Frank told us that if the car breaks down you have to fix it yourself. Almost impossible to get it to a shop, or get parts.
Berglid
Adventurer
We now started on some really wide and good roads. But bumpy as hell. The shock absorbers were having a tough time. It was also nice to have the iPad with spotify in the car. But we only used downloaded lists.
After some hours some cars suddenly slowed down. They just said they had to check something on the car. So we slowed down. It took some time, so I called them on the radio. They had some problems, so I turned around. And saw this.
We were now far from any repair shop. We had to fix this somehow. People were finding their tools. And we started putting up camp and make a fire. Here is the guides toolbox.
First we started do lay some grass flat with our car to make a camp site. But there were too many flies. So we just ended up camping on the road. We had almost never met a car. So it would not be a problem with traffic.
There was one man living here. He was curious on what we were doing. So he came over and started speaking Russian to me. So of course I replied in Norwegian. After a while Frank came and translated. He told us that we could come over and enjoy his sauna. And he gave us some dried fish and left. We didn't test his sauna, but I regret it now. It would be interesting to see inside their houses. But Frank told us that if we went inside we had to give him something in payment. Food, beer or something.
Dried fish and Frank.
Oscar
After some hours some cars suddenly slowed down. They just said they had to check something on the car. So we slowed down. It took some time, so I called them on the radio. They had some problems, so I turned around. And saw this.
We were now far from any repair shop. We had to fix this somehow. People were finding their tools. And we started putting up camp and make a fire. Here is the guides toolbox.
First we started do lay some grass flat with our car to make a camp site. But there were too many flies. So we just ended up camping on the road. We had almost never met a car. So it would not be a problem with traffic.
There was one man living here. He was curious on what we were doing. So he came over and started speaking Russian to me. So of course I replied in Norwegian. After a while Frank came and translated. He told us that we could come over and enjoy his sauna. And he gave us some dried fish and left. We didn't test his sauna, but I regret it now. It would be interesting to see inside their houses. But Frank told us that if we went inside we had to give him something in payment. Food, beer or something.
Dried fish and Frank.
Oscar
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Berglid
Adventurer
It took some time to fix the car, so we had already started on the dinner and some beer. Kjell is diving into the problems. Hopefully he will get it fixed.
We also used the time to check the rest of the cars. Filling some oil and so on. Here I am cleaning Jon’s air filter.
Kjell is a happy man, he finally got the car fixed and we were now ready to travel. The group wanted to go a little bit further this day. So we emptied our beers and packed down the camp.
We also used the time to check the rest of the cars. Filling some oil and so on. Here I am cleaning Jon’s air filter.
Kjell is a happy man, he finally got the car fixed and we were now ready to travel. The group wanted to go a little bit further this day. So we emptied our beers and packed down the camp.
Berglid
Adventurer
We started on our journey the group wanted to drive in the dark. No problem for me. But we didn’t take so many pictures then.
It only took 15 minutes from we left the car until we hear over the radio “bear in the middle of the road”. But before anyone got the chance to take a photo it was already gone into the forest. Good thing we changed camp, if not, maybe we would have been visited by the bear. I didn’t sleep so good that night.
It was getting darker. And usually it’s no problem in the dark. But with a big group like this it took some time. I recommend people to have some good lights on the side of the car. It will help a lot on the overview when driving.
I think we drove for around 2-3 hours before we found a new campsite close to a river. People were tired and it rained so we just went to bed early. It’s nice to sleep also. Your head gets tired when you drive off-road all day. I don’t have any pictures from this camp.
It only took 15 minutes from we left the car until we hear over the radio “bear in the middle of the road”. But before anyone got the chance to take a photo it was already gone into the forest. Good thing we changed camp, if not, maybe we would have been visited by the bear. I didn’t sleep so good that night.
It was getting darker. And usually it’s no problem in the dark. But with a big group like this it took some time. I recommend people to have some good lights on the side of the car. It will help a lot on the overview when driving.
I think we drove for around 2-3 hours before we found a new campsite close to a river. People were tired and it rained so we just went to bed early. It’s nice to sleep also. Your head gets tired when you drive off-road all day. I don’t have any pictures from this camp.
Berglid
Adventurer
Well the next morning it was still raining. We made some coffee, packed our camp and left. I wish I had an awning for times like that. Here we arrived in the first small town this day.
A nice hut/cabin in the middle of the forest.
Nice colors. The fall is here.
Local military truck. Notice the heating.
We now had to find somewhere to cross the river. The bridge is just for walking and really narrow vehicles. The river was surprisingly low, according to Frank. Usually it was one meter higher water.
2 tons only!!
I went first and took the hard route, Jon tried to follow me but we ended up winching him. Kjell’s wife amassed us and followed me without any problems in their 60 series cruiser on 35”.
Asbjørn had almost never tried river crossings so he wanted to play around in the river a little bit and take a different crossing higher up in the river. This was also the easier route.
A nice hut/cabin in the middle of the forest.
Nice colors. The fall is here.
Local military truck. Notice the heating.
We now had to find somewhere to cross the river. The bridge is just for walking and really narrow vehicles. The river was surprisingly low, according to Frank. Usually it was one meter higher water.
2 tons only!!
I went first and took the hard route, Jon tried to follow me but we ended up winching him. Kjell’s wife amassed us and followed me without any problems in their 60 series cruiser on 35”.
Asbjørn had almost never tried river crossings so he wanted to play around in the river a little bit and take a different crossing higher up in the river. This was also the easier route.