So, that where two amazing weeks. Traveling is some hard work...
A lot of impressions and a lot of first times this two weeks but we've made it in to Russia already and we're on schedule for our route.
We now stay in a hotel in Voronezh and plan to get some extra KM's tomorrow and head to Saratov.
We have some detailed travel reports on our site:
The first few days:
http://www.expeditionhoneymoon.com/en/travel-journal/departure/
The first 1,5 week:
http://www.expeditionhoneymoon.com/en/travel-journal/the-adventure-has-begun/
But some key highlights of our first weeks on the road.
Leaving home, after busy days at work was quite strange. Friday we had a drink and sunday morning our friends and family was there again to wave us goodbye. With good spirit we left. Our first night was a camping in Germany, nothing special, just to stay the night.
The second day we booked 2 nights in a hotel in Prague to do a city trip, lovely city and great atmosphere.
After Prague we headed on to the eastern part of Czech Republic. We decided to go for campsites as long a possible.
Because of the time of year all the campsite we visited where empty, so we did some solo camping.
After Czech we visited Slovakia, the country amazed us by it's well maintained roads and houses.
We thought that the influence of the eastern part of Europe was more noticeable in Slovakia then it did.
After Czech one night in Poland, our last campsite for a while I guess..
From Poland we drove into Ukraine, the border crossing took us 1,5 hour. Everything needed to be openend and the border control employees where very interested in all of our tools and equipment. In the Ukraine we decided that we should wild camp for the first time because we would not find any campsites for a while so better get used to it. We wound a spot somewhere in a field and decided that we should be fine. Never saw anyone and had a so so night.
We headed on to Kiev and tried to find a campsite in Kiev, the once listed on internet where closed so in the end we booked a hotel.
In Kiev its was liberation day, so all the Ukrainians had a free day. With the sun shining everybody was in the park. We joined the local with a beer in the park.
Our park neighbors had a dachshund, and while leaving our dachshund at home for 3 months I decided it was time for a small talk with the owners.
After our short conversation we where invited home for a local Ukrainian diner, an offer we could not refuse.
We had a great night with lots of wine and dachshund time, we felt at home straight away. Nice to hear the stories from the local people and being welcomed so warm.
After Kiev we headed to continue our route to Sumy, we wanted to cross the border with Russia near Sumy.
We had one more night in a field with the Jimny and after all the first impression decided to book a hotel in Sumy for 2 nights to chill a bit.
Yesterday we crossed the border and drove to Kursk. Near Kursk we started searching for a place to sleep.
We already we're to close to the city of Kursk, so we decided to ask a local farmer if we could stay close to their home.
Within 1 second he said yes, and again we got in invitation to join for diner. With the local farmer people not speaking any English we did our best
with hand, feet, pictures and some Russian words. In the morning the again made us something to eat and drink and off we went to Voronezh.
The Jimny is holding up more then fine. I check oil almost everyday and none used so far.
The fuel consumption is better then hoped for.. On the total trip I think we are on 1/10km.
But on roads where we drive 80 / 90 we managed to do even 1/11km.
I expected that it would be far worse... somewhere round 1/7km.
Some pictures.. more are on our site.
