tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79608282593799177092024-03-13T19:01:19.199+03:00Bondi to the BalticA vintage Silk Road journeyJohn McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.comBlogger215125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-67744695001705235362020-04-03T04:47:00.000+03:002020-04-03T05:04:41.429+03:00Bondi to the Baltic -- The BOOK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lN2P6WyTBHU/XoaTser2x2I/AAAAAAAAD7o/1-5G1hWuxUUCZqfsw4JlSpFZIOZBzPqIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BondiToBaltic_front_NoQuote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lN2P6WyTBHU/XoaTser2x2I/AAAAAAAAD7o/1-5G1hWuxUUCZqfsw4JlSpFZIOZBzPqIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/BondiToBaltic_front_NoQuote.jpg" width="280" height="320" data-original-width="1400" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div>Yes, we have condensed the trip into a book. <br />
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Here are some reviews: <br />
The best kind of travel writing: engaging, informative, perceptive and generous in spirit, the work of a mind curious about the world and accepting of difference.<br />
Stunning photographs and, above all, a wonderful adventure.<br />
Garry Disher, Bestselling Australian novellist. <br />
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Aussie blokes having the time of their lives driving halfway across the world in vintage cars. This ripping yarn has all the features of the best road movie: cars with character, great mates sharing the good times and bad, thwarted expectations, surprise encounters, heart-warming revelations and brilliant visuals. There’s something about Aussies and road trips – and John’s deadpan sense of humour nails it in this book. It’s a winner! <br />
Phillip Noyce, Film Director, Los Angeles. <br />
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Available from Australian publisher, Wild Dingo Press. Follow the link <a href="https://www.wilddingopress.com.au/product/bondi-to-the-baltic/">HERE</a><br />
While COVID-19 restrictions remain in place there may be some time delay for orders outside Australia. John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-11531710733664393682019-08-04T07:25:00.000+03:002019-08-04T07:25:02.297+03:00Can anyone identify this man?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DGoMZ0LUBjI/XUZc4WWQnRI/AAAAAAAADCQ/AhafBHvoOzUXQbeXFVxMRvUopUp_CarYQCLcBGAs/s1600/Nyasbek%2Band%2Bfamous%2Bhistorian%2Bgrandfather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DGoMZ0LUBjI/XUZc4WWQnRI/AAAAAAAADCQ/AhafBHvoOzUXQbeXFVxMRvUopUp_CarYQCLcBGAs/s400/Nyasbek%2Band%2Bfamous%2Bhistorian%2Bgrandfather.jpg" width="341" height="400" data-original-width="1364" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div>This statue is of a Kyrgyz historian, in the Chon-Kemin Valley. He was killed by the Russians. <br />
Can anyone tell me his name or anything about him?<br />
Thanks<br />
John McCombe<br />
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PS In the photo is his grandson, Nyasbek. John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-24424899170855486852019-08-04T06:37:00.002+03:002019-08-04T06:37:51.975+03:00Bondi to the Baltic: THE BOOKYes folks, the book of our drive from Australia to Finland in those two wonderful vintage cars will be out, hopefully, in early 2020. I'm on the final edit now. Sorry it's taken so long but I've found that there is more to it than pasting all the blogposts together. <br />
The whole crew has had input and helped me along the way with photos and memories of incidents and experiences. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VawadC_jvXM/XUZSpCUhZNI/AAAAAAAADCE/0i-CpHy-FggFrZ6bGG6p6-jGP15XQr04QCLcBGAs/s1600/Here%2Bwe%2Bare.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VawadC_jvXM/XUZSpCUhZNI/AAAAAAAADCE/0i-CpHy-FggFrZ6bGG6p6-jGP15XQr04QCLcBGAs/s320/Here%2Bwe%2Bare.JPG" width="320" height="180" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a></div>I'll post publication date and details of launches as soon as I know for sure. John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-51564221581486364172016-09-27T17:28:00.000+03:002016-09-27T17:28:23.954+03:00Lithuania<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jiuAA7Zgl74/V-qAfcxWmGI/AAAAAAAACCc/h6OY2V8r5qojqyX_1-dcv5B7xL3AlUYYQCLcB/s1600/Leijpaja%2BPromenade%2BHotel%2BLithuania.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jiuAA7Zgl74/V-qAfcxWmGI/AAAAAAAACCc/h6OY2V8r5qojqyX_1-dcv5B7xL3AlUYYQCLcB/s320/Leijpaja%2BPromenade%2BHotel%2BLithuania.JPG" width="320" height="140" /></a></div>Bill and Nigel are now en route to Germany in the fully air conditioned Whippet. Summer is really over and they are doubtful if autumn actually stayed around for long either. They have comforted themselves by staying at the best hotels (the Promenade at Leijpaja), and eating at the best restaurants as they drive through Lithuania. <br />
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They left Lithuania by ferry to Germany from the port of Klaipeda. Now to drop in on the long lost Amann cousins in Germany. European Vacation, here we come. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IM2k9J1RjnM/V-qBdjBPApI/AAAAAAAACCk/XxIb2DeazBEnqs5hWv0TNcEyCKVMMlEnwCLcB/s1600/Ferry%2Bto%2BGermany.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IM2k9J1RjnM/V-qBdjBPApI/AAAAAAAACCk/XxIb2DeazBEnqs5hWv0TNcEyCKVMMlEnwCLcB/s400/Ferry%2Bto%2BGermany.JPG" width="400" height="225" /></a></div>John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-71005794396521517132016-09-27T17:15:00.000+03:002017-05-22T03:53:41.935+03:00To Riga and more repairsAlmost "castled out" after three more 12th century piles in Sigulda, the "Switzerland of Latvia", eventually the Whippet gets Bill and Liz to Riga, a city that immediately charms them with its canals and elegant buildings, a Latvian St Petersburg. And a rendezvous with 2015 B2B traveller Nigel McCombe and wife Judith. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P8PyRc2yfDY/V-p9Hkgi6_I/AAAAAAAACCE/JpQTbUMfUgkWlQwhgy5HyA6Ckr-GXt2bQCLcB/s1600/Riga.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P8PyRc2yfDY/V-p9Hkgi6_I/AAAAAAAACCE/JpQTbUMfUgkWlQwhgy5HyA6Ckr-GXt2bQCLcB/s400/Riga.JPG" width="400" height="225" /></a></div>Bill has been able to contact the Riga Vintage Car Club and arranged for a mechanic (a real one) to do an engine overhaul while Bill, Liz, Nigel and Judith head over to Copenhagen to compete (and I use the word lightly) in a World Masters Rowing regatta. Their training has consisted of sitting either in a very small car for several hours a day, or in a restaurant drinking beer and champagne while eating gourmet meals and ice cream in Estonia and Latvia. Good luck. <br />
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Meanwhile Richard, the Riga Vintage Car Club's mechanic, gets to work on a re-bore for Stan the Whippet. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zCQVEjtW7R8/V-p-dXQR5VI/AAAAAAAACCM/42vTIgOUSKc9KJzp_5pTJjeo9S4-LqFmgCLcB/s1600/Bill%2Band%2BLatvian%2Bmechanic%2BRichard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zCQVEjtW7R8/V-p-dXQR5VI/AAAAAAAACCM/42vTIgOUSKc9KJzp_5pTJjeo9S4-LqFmgCLcB/s400/Bill%2Band%2BLatvian%2Bmechanic%2BRichard.JPG" width="400" height="395" /></a></div>John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-89364874823097482232016-09-27T16:53:00.000+03:002016-09-27T16:53:15.431+03:00Running repairs, bush style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qA-BE3BsihA/V-p3XP7gqoI/AAAAAAAACBs/zs-zD-Wi-yEErctXz2d_OfJXEMKU082VwCLcB/s1600/Rotor%2Bbutton%2Bthis%2Btime%2BLatvia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qA-BE3BsihA/V-p3XP7gqoI/AAAAAAAACBs/zs-zD-Wi-yEErctXz2d_OfJXEMKU082VwCLcB/s320/Rotor%2Bbutton%2Bthis%2Btime%2BLatvia.JPG" width="240" height="320" /></a></div>On the road from Dikli to Parnu the Whippet decides to stop in the middle of a single lane bridge. Liz finds out that her role is to push the car to the end of the bridge where Bill can diagnose and fix. Distributor problem, rotor button, and no spare. The bush mechanic fashions a repair with super glue. All in a day's motoring for Bill and his Whippet. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-89i2Np8JT8Q/V-p5hr3_E2I/AAAAAAAACB0/F80F7nLpzNAqB5MwB-ttFdE0N5cpvhJ4QCLcB/s1600/Cesis%2BcastleB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-89i2Np8JT8Q/V-p5hr3_E2I/AAAAAAAACB0/F80F7nLpzNAqB5MwB-ttFdE0N5cpvhJ4QCLcB/s320/Cesis%2BcastleB.JPG" width="320" height="240" /></a></div>Is Bill a knight in shining armour? Well it just so happens that through the Gaujas National Park they come to Cesis, with its medieval castle. After an exploration, including a candle-lit climb up the interior tower steps, he just might be. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RHZ5C_pEZXU/V-p5riUP7tI/AAAAAAAACB4/yeGK0cEqW-E8wVIC5sMjfMsgB7VHpeTrwCLcB/s1600/Cesis%2BcastleC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RHZ5C_pEZXU/V-p5riUP7tI/AAAAAAAACB4/yeGK0cEqW-E8wVIC5sMjfMsgB7VHpeTrwCLcB/s400/Cesis%2BcastleC.JPG" width="400" height="300" /></a></div>John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-60992982147933730672016-09-27T16:23:00.000+03:002016-09-27T16:23:01.274+03:00Meandering down to Latvia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i-2mV3gkS10/V-pwn8oAMKI/AAAAAAAACBE/qlO0wAh2ucgA3LXT7ipd4elKtxtZ7m_mACLcB/s1600/Lihula.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i-2mV3gkS10/V-pwn8oAMKI/AAAAAAAACBE/qlO0wAh2ucgA3LXT7ipd4elKtxtZ7m_mACLcB/s320/Lihula.JPG" width="240" height="320" /></a></div>Avoiding the main roads where possible Bill and Liz headed south through Lihula in Estonia, eventually crossing into Latvia on a quiet country road. Note the border guards vehicle in the background.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VNAMCZ2yr2E/V-pwyA02sKI/AAAAAAAACBI/sITMoT_aM1Q4IBZtHvrabkJJkLQbQHO9gCLcB/s1600/Border%2Bcrossing%2BEstonia%2BLatvia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VNAMCZ2yr2E/V-pwyA02sKI/AAAAAAAACBI/sITMoT_aM1Q4IBZtHvrabkJJkLQbQHO9gCLcB/s400/Border%2Bcrossing%2BEstonia%2BLatvia.JPG" width="400" height="269" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gbO6aQYXBu0/V-pxWF8W4SI/AAAAAAAACBQ/gPqTNNGg7QYN1pgLx76JoDxropnxldCogCLcB/s1600/Bill%2Bin%2Bhis%2Belement%2BDikli%2BLatvia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gbO6aQYXBu0/V-pxWF8W4SI/AAAAAAAACBQ/gPqTNNGg7QYN1pgLx76JoDxropnxldCogCLcB/s400/Bill%2Bin%2Bhis%2Belement%2BDikli%2BLatvia.JPG" width="400" height="300" /></a></div>No sooner into Latvia than Bill is back in his element, fixing another Whippet problem. This time it provides an opportunity to check into the Dikli Palace Manor, hidden in the nearby forest, and another gourmet champagne dinner to celebrate Bill and Liz' 35th wedding anniversary. Bill's an old romantic. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2wrOklN8gVE/V-pyg7WjEoI/AAAAAAAACBc/_fF_w_YJJAMRFHWQkRLJREEZy5jMfL1sQCLcB/s1600/Dikli%2BManor%2BHouse%2BLatvia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2wrOklN8gVE/V-pyg7WjEoI/AAAAAAAACBc/_fF_w_YJJAMRFHWQkRLJREEZy5jMfL1sQCLcB/s400/Dikli%2BManor%2BHouse%2BLatvia.JPG" width="400" height="300" /></a></div><br />
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY. John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-26686847653148349872016-09-27T15:57:00.000+03:002016-09-27T15:57:42.031+03:00Beautiful Estonia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9decPjgskrE/V-pp9GMP7tI/AAAAAAAACAo/kHUnYtJTjoIeVF8fedf8qiHKdPJankfFACLcB/s1600/Keila-Joa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9decPjgskrE/V-pp9GMP7tI/AAAAAAAACAo/kHUnYtJTjoIeVF8fedf8qiHKdPJankfFACLcB/s320/Keila-Joa.JPG" width="320" height="240" /></a></div>From Tallinn, down to the coastal town of Haapsalu, ON THE BALTIC. Old castles, rivers, waterfalls, forest, manor houses, and all summery green. The kind of day that really relaxes one. So much so that Bill, the bush mechanic who could coax a ninety year old, unrestored motor car, across 20,000km, through twelve countries across central Asia, showing ingenuity, knowledge and skill, along the road decides to fill the PETROL tank with deisel. Perhaps he was so unused to the car running smoothly that he decided to create a problem for him to fix. Who knows? <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Brv9EZdy_xk/V-prijNWdgI/AAAAAAAACAw/qcY1PPtAdB4tesbrPRjsPbUmU6SafeIqwCLcB/s1600/Padise%2BEstonia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Brv9EZdy_xk/V-prijNWdgI/AAAAAAAACAw/qcY1PPtAdB4tesbrPRjsPbUmU6SafeIqwCLcB/s400/Padise%2BEstonia.JPG" width="400" height="300" /></a></div>After an hour of draining and refuelling, Bill owed Liz a decent lunch. So it was rabbit pate, tartare of salmon, and creme brulee at the 17th century manor house next to the 12th century monastery at Padise. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eKJOy0ncKUU/V-psnPMAHcI/AAAAAAAACA0/RfFulXHHFKcSqWe24-P8HeHrnvzVe2qUwCLcB/s1600/The%2BBaltic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eKJOy0ncKUU/V-psnPMAHcI/AAAAAAAACA0/RfFulXHHFKcSqWe24-P8HeHrnvzVe2qUwCLcB/s400/The%2BBaltic.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a></div>And finally, the Baltic. John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-62721413493246951322016-09-27T15:30:00.001+03:002016-09-27T15:30:19.540+03:00Helsinki to Tallinn, Estonia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fj5HqsOCSbY/V-pkIpNpUhI/AAAAAAAACAA/FZVt02E9KywgxbYUV9CyG-9hTROz2W9PACLcB/s1600/Tallin%2Bold%2Btown.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fj5HqsOCSbY/V-pkIpNpUhI/AAAAAAAACAA/FZVt02E9KywgxbYUV9CyG-9hTROz2W9PACLcB/s400/Tallin%2Bold%2Btown.JPG" width="400" height="300" /></a></div>Summer ends early in the north. It’s September and it’s cold and raining in Finland. Bill and Liz take a quick drive straight to the Helsinki ferry terminal, a quick cruise over the Gulf of Finland, arriving in Tallinn in the same cold, rainy night, and in the leaking Whippet, find their way to a hotel. The next morning a clear hotel window view of Tallinn’s Old Town. And time for a bit of touring.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IMNaE2zGu4Y/V-plNA5Pe7I/AAAAAAAACAI/YCzD-xVCob0R-hHz5c6_e9qrOdk7-OVEACLcB/s1600/Liz%2BTallinold%2Btown.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IMNaE2zGu4Y/V-plNA5Pe7I/AAAAAAAACAI/YCzD-xVCob0R-hHz5c6_e9qrOdk7-OVEACLcB/s400/Liz%2BTallinold%2Btown.JPG" width="400" height="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xS-fGnIiP3w/V-plqUO6LhI/AAAAAAAACAQ/lQaP6NOK8usLpLJkcyisJ2SzbMv5bsPpACLcB/s1600/Tallinn%2Bmuseum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xS-fGnIiP3w/V-plqUO6LhI/AAAAAAAACAQ/lQaP6NOK8usLpLJkcyisJ2SzbMv5bsPpACLcB/s400/Tallinn%2Bmuseum.JPG" width="400" height="243" /></a></div>Maritime museums always tell the best histories, especially on rainy days. Vikings and prisons. John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-55060794234972150752016-09-27T15:10:00.002+03:002016-09-27T15:10:52.182+03:00Bondi to the Baltic - Year 3: the Baltic Sea at last. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NoETvgoPibc/V-pg-pkTd3I/AAAAAAAAB_4/2hxsLtm01hoVWGor3bo1VghEN0_KgwyAwCLcB/s1600/Stan%2Buncovered.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NoETvgoPibc/V-pg-pkTd3I/AAAAAAAAB_4/2hxsLtm01hoVWGor3bo1VghEN0_KgwyAwCLcB/s400/Stan%2Buncovered.JPG" width="400" height="300" /></a></div>After 20,000 km from Thailand, across central Asia to Finland in 2014 and 2015, Bill Amann’s dogged little Whippet (named Stan, after his previous long time owner, Stan Perry) had earned a long rest. It had survived six months driving with regular overheating, several broken springs, permanently severed shock absorbers, makeshift exhaust repairs, loosened wooden wheel-spokes, slashed inner tubes, and many fuel, carburettor and electrical fixes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6mfGRMRUlsI/V-pfvEurfaI/AAAAAAAAB_s/1ZAHzO0Um8MPHFTChUi7rUT6Ty5lcp-ugCLcB/s1600/Back%2Bto%2Blife.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6mfGRMRUlsI/V-pfvEurfaI/AAAAAAAAB_s/1ZAHzO0Um8MPHFTChUi7rUT6Ty5lcp-ugCLcB/s320/Back%2Bto%2Blife.JPG" width="320" height="240" /></a></div>A cosy shed in rural Finland has been a welcome home for the past year. Then in August 2016 the shed doors creaked open and the little Willys Whippet blinked in the sunshine. A check of fuel, cooling and electrical systems, a bit of air in the tyres, wheels back on, and the 90 year old motor spluttered back into life. <br />
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This time it's on to the Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to finally complete the “Bondi to the Baltic” expedition. By an alliterative error we had previously misnamed our ambitious vintage car road trip from Australia to Finland (should have been “Hanoi to Helsinki” but for the Vietnamese government taking its leftist political system to the absurdity of even banning right hand drive cars), causing us to apologise to the Finns for misplacing them on a map of European seas. But now to the real Baltic. John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-45707506276345962642016-04-27T08:40:00.000+03:002016-04-27T08:40:24.198+03:00Telling our storyEarlier we mentioned being invited to present at the 2016 Adventure Travel Film Festival in Bright. Bright is an aptly named village tucked in the upper Ovens River valley on the way to the alpine snow resorts in north eastern Victoria, and is famous for its Autumn colours. It has great pubs and eateries, and on the weekend of 12-14 February it treated us to perfect sunny weather, just right for the pubs. <br />
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The festival is in its fifth year and is the love child of Rupert Shaw, a well travelled Englishman now resident in Bright, and a band of very enthusiastic local volunteers. This year the program included Tony Wheeler, co-founder of the travellers bible, Lonely Planet, as well as world travelling motorcyclists Brian Rix and Shirley Hardy-Rix, Postie bike explorer Jacquie Kennedy, Ron Fellowes who rode a 102 year old motorcycle from Nepal to the factory in Belgium where the bike was made. We were also privileged to meet the remarkable Paul Pritchard, a climber with a story that is almost unbelievable. Have a look for yourself: <br />
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http://www.adventuretravelfilmfestival.com/australian-festival/added-attractions/<br />
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Four of the crew attended, Rex Hewett, Michael Noyce, Ian Neuss and me. Rex had spliced a short clip of movie footage of various parts of the trip to set up expectations while people were finding their seats. Michael told the exciting story of the crew's midnight flit from Kazakhstan, with relevant pics and video clip, and Ian and I toggled through the rest. <br />
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The car and presentation set off many conversations with other travellers and attendees who are on the verge of deciding to give adventure travel a go. One result is that I will be talking about our trip at the Gippsland Vehicle Collection rally at Maffra, Victoria, on 7 May. John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-58872320616533128912015-08-30T12:43:00.000+03:002015-08-30T13:14:19.769+03:00“Let’s be glad there are still a few crazy men in the world”. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b1Ty4Vb1_EI/VeIgFvv0SLI/AAAAAAAAB7o/LeMl_wYqI4Q/s1600/Crazy%2Bmen%2Bcropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b1Ty4Vb1_EI/VeIgFvv0SLI/AAAAAAAAB7o/LeMl_wYqI4Q/s200/Crazy%2Bmen%2Bcropped.jpg" /></a></div>We are sitting in bright late-summer sunshine on the lawns of the home of Risto and Marja-Liisa Heiskanen, confronted with a groaning table of Finnish hospitality. The Vice President of Finland’s Automobile Historical Society (Autohistoriallinen Seura), Markku Pellinen, is welcoming Ian and Bill, the two crazy men who thought it would be a good idea to drive a couple of vintage cars halfway across the world, with no sponsorship, no arranged publicity, just a set of cheap T-shirts and caps, a backseat full of tools and spare parts, and a few mates. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0eXpRK3dkb0/VeLOPiyTTwI/AAAAAAAAB8E/w4Q0roDWCBY/s1600/Citroen%2Bgrill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0eXpRK3dkb0/VeLOPiyTTwI/AAAAAAAAB8E/w4Q0roDWCBY/s200/Citroen%2Bgrill.jpg" /></a></div>The President of the Finnish Vintage Machinery Club (Wanhat Masiinat), Kari Kaartama, also presented a club emblem to the by-now swollen headed crazy men. The lawn was graced by the presence of a veteran 1952 Mercedes Benz, Citroen and MGB (Kari Kaartamas is thus also a very good mechanic to take on any British car). <br />
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The day before we had been honoured with a raising of the Finnish flag at Kari's sister Anniki and brother-in-law Matti's lake-side "cabin", and more local gourmet produce, this time a fabulous salmon soup plus trimmings, followed, in the Finnish tradition, by a wood-fired sauna, including a plunge in the lake. I should add that the Finnish sauna tradition is not at all prudish, but not a single photo has survived this particular ritual. <br />
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It only remains for me to sign off for 2015. The Dodge is waiting in Helsinki for a ship to Sydney. The Whippet is in a shed, pending a possible sale to one of Finland's many car collectors. The faithful Land Cruiser, now with over 360,000 km on the clock, will come home too. And Michael Noyce has invited us to a re-union at Wollombi in November to bore each other even more. <br />
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AND we will live again, briefly. We have been invited to present at the Adventure Travel Film Festival in Bright, Victoria, on 12-14 February 2016. <br />
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http://www.adventuretravelfilmfestival.com/australian-festival/<br />
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Thanks for following us and for the almost 46,000 hits in the 2 years, and for all the encouraging comments. <br />
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John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-13566624882866394992015-08-30T00:04:00.000+03:002015-09-07T19:32:42.221+03:00“Tell me again, why are we doing this?”Michael Leggo asked me this question a dozen times as we shared the wheel through Russia. I now know the answer. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SfYZBc5o5RM/VeIeDvmtXzI/AAAAAAAAB7U/kmZDgcJZqNw/s1600/Kari.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SfYZBc5o5RM/VeIeDvmtXzI/AAAAAAAAB7U/kmZDgcJZqNw/s200/Kari.jpg" /></a></div>People say the Finns are very reserved people, but when they befriend you it’s for life. I believe it. The reception in Finland for Ian and Bill has been more than mere ceremony (more on that later) and respect for a serious achievement. They worked with Kari Airas and Risto Heiskanen at Outokumpu Mining in Australia and Finland and the depth of this friendship has been a key factor in the degree of audacity of the project, and the quiet determination by Ian and Bill to see it through. Of the full crew of ten who took part, they were the only ones who saw out every kilometre from Australia to Finland. (A full crew list is on a separate Page). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OCZKPsRZkG4/VeIeLkho8AI/AAAAAAAAB7c/zLki6ly4lVg/s1600/Risto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OCZKPsRZkG4/VeIeLkho8AI/AAAAAAAAB7c/zLki6ly4lVg/s200/Risto.jpg" /></a></div>The reception has been both formal and personal. We returned to Outokumpu, the company’s home, now an ex-mining town with the old copper mine property creatively transformed into a museum and community education and art facility. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ognuTjMxt9k/VeIZjzRLlaI/AAAAAAAAB6w/CVSdhnCkDas/s1600/War%2Bgraves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ognuTjMxt9k/VeIZjzRLlaI/AAAAAAAAB6w/CVSdhnCkDas/s320/War%2Bgraves.jpg" /></a></div>Kari, the company’s former Australian Manager, who lived a couple of decades in Australia, joined us and showed us the church where his grandfather preached and led his community, and where the neat little cemetery is a reminder of the Finns years of fighting first the Russians, then Nazi Germany from 1939 to 1945. Fallen soldiers were brought back to their home communities. The church itself is large, wooden, solid, and no-nonsense, in the way of most buildings here inside 60 degrees north. Risto and his wife Marja-Liisa hosted a real reception at their home. More about that in the next post.<br />
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In each town we stayed before Helsinki the local newspaper had heard of this remarkable trip and wanted the story. Why Finland? Why Outokumpu? Why Lahti? Why Mantyharju? <br />
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I know why. <br />
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John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-76729363640391852142015-08-27T22:21:00.001+03:002015-08-27T22:21:59.898+03:00Public apology<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qsu7vK9oV78/Vd9jDc2byQI/AAAAAAAAB6U/MIi3-KXCLzg/s1600/Gulf%2Bof%2BFinland.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qsu7vK9oV78/Vd9jDc2byQI/AAAAAAAAB6U/MIi3-KXCLzg/s640/Gulf%2Bof%2BFinland.bmp" /></a></div><br />
It has been brought to our attention, here in Finland, that Finland is washed on the south by the Gulf of Finland, and on the west by the Gulf of Bothnia. The Baltic Sea provides the shoreline for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and they are called, logically enough, the Baltic States. Finland is not one of them. <br />
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So our attempt at a catchy expedition name, and blog title, not to mention T-shirt and cap logo, has produced a clumsy geographical solecism, one that may have caused some discomfort or hurt to our many new Finnish friends. <br />
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For that we apologise. <br />
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When "Hanoi to Helsinki" was canned due to Vietnamese intolerance of right hand drive cars we thought we were clever coming up with such a snappy replacement alliteration. However it seems that, despite our skills at Trivial Pursuit, we hadn't actually had a proper look at a map. It's a bit like calling a Canadian an American, or even worse, a Kiwi an Australian. So we hope we can set things right with this public backdown. We will try to make it up to you all. <br />
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John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-82311297957887748602015-08-27T17:18:00.000+03:002015-08-27T22:28:46.509+03:00Headlining in Finland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LxZxNtUqVAk/Vd8cCC_jJqI/AAAAAAAAB50/hMQ8xCW1c4I/s1600/Iand%2Band%2BHoraced%2Bstar%2Bagain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LxZxNtUqVAk/Vd8cCC_jJqI/AAAAAAAAB50/hMQ8xCW1c4I/s400/Iand%2Band%2BHoraced%2Bstar%2Bagain.jpg" /></a></div>Well, maybe trailing the headlines. The Bondi to the Baltic expeditioners have had a wonderful welcome in Finland, thanks to the the great friends made by Ian and Bill when they worked for Finnish mining company Outokumpu. For four consecutive days we have met local journalists, and even had national network coverage. Here Ian is caught for national TV, while Bill briefs the motoring journo in the background. Look at this 2 minute clip to wind up the national evening news. http://www.mtv.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/artikkeli/seurue-korotteli-australiasta-suomeen-1920-luvun-autoilla/5278712<br />
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And the local Lahti daily ran this: http://www.ess.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/2015/08/24/20-000-kilometria-11-maata-2-vuotta---museoautot-reissasivat-australiasta-lahteen<br />
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We will also get a feature in Mobilisti, a local magazine for car enthusiasts. <br />
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And stop complaining about your lack of Finnish language skill. Google Translate makes the world quite small. <br />
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Just look at this pair of media tarts lapping up the attention. <br />
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John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-20678661166555512112015-08-24T22:00:00.000+03:002015-08-24T22:01:59.993+03:00Spectacular St Petersburg<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e18iFrB5SLc/VdndzXk5P5I/AAAAAAAAB4M/3iy2ZYnmwjo/s1600/Roman%2Bbust%2BHermitage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e18iFrB5SLc/VdndzXk5P5I/AAAAAAAAB4M/3iy2ZYnmwjo/s200/Roman%2Bbust%2BHermitage.jpg" /></a></div>No traveller can spend 5 days in St Petersburg and not post at least one comment. Its palaces, museums and galleries are a splendid reminder of the glory days of Tsarist Russia, and how they set out to match their cousins in the Royal houses of Europe, and even the Roman Empire (the title Tsar is based on Caesar). The treasures housed in them are now the property of the Russian people, and the Hermitage attracts about 3 million visitor annually. But it's just one of many palaces, both royal and merely aristocratic, many meticulously restored after serious damage in WW2. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ER1QJ43Z-M/Vdng0Pc15YI/AAAAAAAAB4o/WpwhFxFcFf0/s1600/Rembrandt%2BDanae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ER1QJ43Z-M/Vdng0Pc15YI/AAAAAAAAB4o/WpwhFxFcFf0/s320/Rembrandt%2BDanae.jpg" /></a></div>There's gold, marble and rooms full of Rembrandts and Titians in the Hermitage, the old Winter Palace. Each room in the Yusupov Palace museum, which the Yusupov family mysteriously walked out of in 1919, would be worth millions. Peterhof, built 300 years ago for the Tsar to rest on the journey from the port to St Petersburg, has been extended into a magnificent palace on a couple of thousand hectares, with over 200 fountains and goodness knows what else. A handy B&B for old Pete<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7syhbRPB0IY/Vdto2mF_X7I/AAAAAAAAB44/GurRXtY9GRM/s1600/Peterhof%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7syhbRPB0IY/Vdto2mF_X7I/AAAAAAAAB44/GurRXtY9GRM/s400/Peterhof%2B1.jpg" /></a></div>. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-axPehpwYlZs/VdnX_GgRwGI/AAAAAAAAB3s/4yi0l7aPvwA/s1600/Winter%2BPalace%2BSquare%2BHermitage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-axPehpwYlZs/VdnX_GgRwGI/AAAAAAAAB3s/4yi0l7aPvwA/s400/Winter%2BPalace%2BSquare%2BHermitage.jpg" /></a></div>This is the Hermitage, across the Winter Palace Square, where about 1,000 men, women and children were killed by authorities as they tried to present a petition to Tsar Nicholas in 1905 for poverty relief. The gathering was well publicised in advance and the presence of children evidence of its peaceful intent. <br />
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Best quote from our expeditioners: No wonder there was a revolution. <br />
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John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-3189391046535019212015-08-22T08:16:00.001+03:002015-08-22T08:16:14.581+03:00Russian media coverageWe stayed in Kirov en route from Perm to St Petersburg, and got a little local media notice, with a link back to some of our photos. <br />
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For our Russian readers the link is<br />
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http://m.progorod43.ru/auto/view/131607<br />
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For others, Google Translate will help. Worth looking for the photos. <br />
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John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-76376358883403033642015-08-20T17:54:00.000+03:002015-08-22T08:04:20.210+03:00Russians getting on with it<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-veaJe44YAEU/VdXpwBDptwI/AAAAAAAAB3Y/fmug2SiNduQ/s1600/Merc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-veaJe44YAEU/VdXpwBDptwI/AAAAAAAAB3Y/fmug2SiNduQ/s320/Merc.jpg" /></a></div>We’ve all heard of the Russian oligarchs, these cronies of powerful politicians. It’s part of the Western pejorative view of successful Russians. S-class Mercedes with tinted windows, Italian sports cars, yachts on the Riviera, conspicuous consumption abroad, must be something shady, but we in the West are above all that. <br />
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But today I hear from home (Australia) that our own dear Abbott government is now trying to exempt 800 large private companies from publicly reporting their taxable income and the amount of tax they have paid, a privilege not enjoyed by the rest of the business world. Goodness me, could some be more equal than others? <br />
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However an interesting conversation with long-term ex-pats here in St Petersburg debunks some myths. Yes, there are some very rich people with connections (show me a country without, see above). But there is also a big number who have worked hard to build businesses and do well – by our own standards. The cafe / restaurant scene reveals a prosperous market, not just tourists, being catered for. Our local bar is packed with 20 or 30-somethings each evening. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bNMfE8SfeVo/VdXoj_UIjlI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/n4SK_vXNIMs/s1600/Volga%2Bvalley%2Bgrain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bNMfE8SfeVo/VdXoj_UIjlI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/n4SK_vXNIMs/s320/Volga%2Bvalley%2Bgrain.jpg" /></a></div>Russia is a country with enormous resources and potential. We drove through hundreds, if not thousands, of kilometres of rich agricultural land. Our on-board geologists swear by the minerals present, and we know that Russia supplies 30% of Europe’s gas. It’s a country in transition from state-run to more open market enterprise. We saw the signs every day. Uneven service levels and adherence to paper warfare, obvious inefficiencies, but all done with a genuine, unapologetic, open confidence and generosity. They don’t know or care what the world thinks of them. They won the last war and don’t believe anyone would be stupid enough to start another one (quoting yesterday’s guide). <br />
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So they’re just getting on with business. <br />
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John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-92121184933509267452015-08-20T13:44:00.000+03:002015-08-20T13:48:42.203+03:00First Impressions, Nigel McCombeAfter 36 hours flying from Melbourne, via Singapore to Helsinki, then train to St Petersburg, a jet-lagged participant failed the test of “don't take the first taxi you see out front of the train station as they may drop you in the city some 5 kilometers from you hotel”. Despite this setback, and a further flight to Perm to join the B2B party, these first impressions are not lasting. <br />
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The people are very friendly and helpful despite the inadequacies of my Russian language. In every town there has been someone to help, advise, or just smile, cheer or give a thumbs up as they fly by the Whippet or the Dodge at considerable speed. <br />
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For example, as the Land Cruiser limped into Cherepovets at 4pm and stopped at a local mechanics yard last Wednesday, with generator and battery issues they obliging called their motor electrician friends, Alexander and Alexei, who then shepherded us at a poor 10-15 kph to then fail right at their garage door.<br />
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John disappears with Alexei for an hour to find a replacement generator, I suspect in another town, Nigel deploys his considerable pigeon Anglo-Russian language skills to entertain the gathering crowd of mechanics in the back blocks of Cherepovets, somewhere down a back alley in a small line of garages, hidden from public view, as to the purpose behind B2B. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0AWzPXcoF3s/VdWut8XDnlI/AAAAAAAAB2E/n7p7EaCm3RA/s1600/Cherepovits%2BAlexei%2Bn%2BAlexander.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0AWzPXcoF3s/VdWut8XDnlI/AAAAAAAAB2E/n7p7EaCm3RA/s320/Cherepovits%2BAlexei%2Bn%2BAlexander.JPG" /></a></div>John returns triumphantly (and thankfully from my perspective) and these two young men then build and install, in their small workshop, a new generator into Cruiser. We apply the skills of iPad, Google translate, and other English-Russian translators, to thank them profusely, award two kangaroo pins and give Alexander’s pregnant wife who arrived back in tow somehow with John, a special Koala award. Back with the rest of the team by 8pm. These young men pictured with John after the successful fix was made asked no special thanks, would not accept any extra gratuity, but exemplified the very warm and welcoming nature of many people along the road who bent over backwards to help.<br />
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I look forward to more encounters and my view and expectations of Russia and its people have changed and been overturned by the friendly nature of Russian and its people.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2LLHXZi4vRY/VdWvyma4nwI/AAAAAAAAB2M/cWH_la_fxCw/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2LLHXZi4vRY/VdWvyma4nwI/AAAAAAAAB2M/cWH_la_fxCw/s400/image1.JPG" /></a></div>Hotel staff loved being photographed with cars (and so do Bill and Ian)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l8HWvTlOkUM/VdWwTdnGU9I/AAAAAAAAB2U/fDKvB8O9rxU/s1600/image3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l8HWvTlOkUM/VdWwTdnGU9I/AAAAAAAAB2U/fDKvB8O9rxU/s400/image3.JPG" /></a></div>Being photographed as we are passed now is the norm now always with a smile or thumbs up. <br />
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Nigel McCombe<br />
John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-35473043179900733182015-08-19T13:54:00.000+03:002015-08-20T14:00:17.407+03:00Saint Petersburg trafficIn a previous post, Driving in Russia, we praised Russian drivers. On the last 200 km into, and within St Petersburg we have changed our view. Many drivers from this splendid city, and its beautiful surrounding countryside, have expensive cars and drive them very fast, faster than their driving capability, and faster than is suitable for the quality of the road and street. <br />
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Todays road was the best so far, something like the Geelong to Warrnambool track, but it seemed that the entire population of St Pete was leaving town for the weekend. Outward bound they were bumper to bumper, thousands of them. And almost as many were on their way in, to fill the gap, and flat out, too fast and too close together. A rear-ender was inevitable and happened right next to the parked Dodge which was lucky to survive the evasive path of the next speedster. <br />
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John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-16681287845656352702015-08-15T18:52:00.000+03:002015-08-15T18:54:03.298+03:00One planet: a Russian view<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DXeNKUA8JIM/Vc9eprriRaI/AAAAAAAAB1E/9MgAOeptqtk/s1600/Sergey%2Bportrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DXeNKUA8JIM/Vc9eprriRaI/AAAAAAAAB1E/9MgAOeptqtk/s320/Sergey%2Bportrait.jpg" /></a></div>We have mentioned our Russian hitchhiker, Sergey. He travelled with us for a week as part of his mission to see his own country, hitch-hiking 8,000 km from the Black Sea to Lake Baikal. <br />
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Here is his view of our adventure together. <br />
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Hello my name is Sergey and I am hitchhiker from Gelendzhik (south part of Russia on the Black Sea). All my life I do not leave my region. But one day I decided that it is bad for me. I realized that I live in the biggest country in the world and do not see anything. I bring my bag go on the road and put my right hand up. My goal, visit more than 15 cites. And my destination, Lake Baikal.<br />
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After 8 days of my trip I stay on the road near Kamishin. Then I see one old car and I think that it is about 35-50 years old maybe, no more, so nothing interesting. Since couple of minutes I see another old car. Later one car stop near me open the door, I ask may I go with you, but one guy ask me too "do you speak English?". Like this start our combine trip.<br />
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Later, when we got acquainted, I asked the guys about the purpose of their journey, and why they travelled by historical cars. The answer was - "just for fun". I was deeply struck.<br />
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I was also surprised that the guys could stay both at the expensive hotels and just in a tent on the bank of the river. I was astonished by the fact that they were able to move around a lot of countries without knowing local languages. And, of course, I was astonished by their cars. It was a real holiday on the highway when we were passing by towns they attracted (like a magnet) people with cameras. They made everybody happier, and it was unforgettable to go by such cars! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bS0QhcjBVZs/Vc9e4JOdLnI/AAAAAAAAB1M/46-I_F9_aGs/s1600/Sergey%2Bfarewell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bS0QhcjBVZs/Vc9e4JOdLnI/AAAAAAAAB1M/46-I_F9_aGs/s400/Sergey%2Bfarewell.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I am very glad that I have met them. I think this meeting was useful for everybody. And the main thing that I have understood for myself is that it's not important where you are from - from Russia, Australia or any other country, we are all people and we live on the one and the same planet, and the only difference between us is the language, but this difference will disappear soon.<br />
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John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-6677189258831970882015-08-14T22:23:00.000+03:002015-08-14T22:23:41.303+03:00Russian Hospitality with the Common PersonWe have been overwhelmed with examples of hospitality and generosity from the people we meet in our travels in Russia. We are given time and an ear and nothing is too much trouble. <br />
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I went into the science museum in Yarislavl and was told they took groups through, so go and have a cup of coffee until the next group is ready. So I did and the staff in the cafe were having coffee and pizza and they invited me to join them. I had a chat to Julia and Helen. Paul, a science teacher, decided that as he spoke English he would give me a tour as it’s really a house that tries to explain some of the laws of physics to kids. So he did.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8LTV_rRnVNM/Vc5ACe5rvDI/AAAAAAAAB0w/-q9RXPhsRMQ/s1600/Julia%2BPaul%2BHelen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8LTV_rRnVNM/Vc5ACe5rvDI/AAAAAAAAB0w/-q9RXPhsRMQ/s320/Julia%2BPaul%2BHelen.JPG" /></a></div><br />
In the City Museum the same happened. I could not leave until I had seen it all this way then that. Look, we are putting on a film in a minute, here’s a book in English. Ekaterinburg city museum was similar. So was Kirov and Perm.<br />
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Road side sellers are just as friendly, wanting to know why and where we are going.<br />
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I had some postcards I had been carrying for a day or two looking for a post box. I spied a post van stopped beside the road. The driver was having a rest in the sun. Would you put these cards in your truck please? No problem.<br />
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Cheers Ian<br />
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On the Road.John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-75769115496751756312015-08-14T22:14:00.001+03:002015-08-14T22:14:10.962+03:00Major roadside negotiations. Michael Leggo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fHchGGrz5_o/Vc49aoWzZUI/AAAAAAAAB0M/4Adxf_lAEoQ/s1600/Roadside%2Bstall%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fHchGGrz5_o/Vc49aoWzZUI/AAAAAAAAB0M/4Adxf_lAEoQ/s320/Roadside%2Bstall%2B1.jpg" /></a></div>Intense, high level commercial negotiations were conducted by our battle-hardened B2B leader with an entrepreneurial capitalist at an impromptu roadside meeting near Tikhvin. When asked why the cost of berries had gone up 100 Roubles since yesterday, the vendor said it was because it was now Friday. Following this quite compelling response the deal was consummated amicably, as can be seen. <br />
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We are very fortunate that this is both the berry and mushroom season and that we have such skilled negotiators in our team. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ubYYCgWLRp4/Vc49yV_39mI/AAAAAAAAB0c/NlNaL2h217Q/s1600/Roadside%2Bstall%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ubYYCgWLRp4/Vc49yV_39mI/AAAAAAAAB0c/NlNaL2h217Q/s320/Roadside%2Bstall%2B3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Michael LeggoJohn McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-17411071711612658252015-08-14T18:17:00.001+03:002015-08-20T16:43:57.585+03:00Driving in RussiaThe web is full of horror clips of Russian traffic incidents – lorry rollovers, appalling roads, careering speedsters, bodies flying, grim statistics – so we arrived with trepidation. China had been a breeze with European-standard highways, if somewhat inexperienced drivers in new powerful cars. We enjoyed driving there. <br />
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So here, with 2 days driving to go, is what we have found in Russia. Yes there are fender bender accidents. We have seen several with forlorn drivers and weary police exchanging details. The Lada driver wondering where he will get parts for repairs, the BMW driver anxiously checking her insurance. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xSSi_bymLvE/VdXY8jugypI/AAAAAAAAB3A/t1ZBVuFkyIY/s1600/Pedestrian%2Bcrossing%2BSt%2BPete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xSSi_bymLvE/VdXY8jugypI/AAAAAAAAB3A/t1ZBVuFkyIY/s320/Pedestrian%2Bcrossing%2BSt%2BPete.jpg" /></a></div>ALL drivers have a mobile phone to the ear. All drivers stop at pedestrian (called zebra here) crossings, even without lights and even out on the highway next to bus stops. Trucks don’t pass over unbroken lines. Cars sometimes do, and oncoming traffic, blind corners or crests don’t deter. The oncoming car merely makes room. Although here in the tourist zone where roads are better, and traffic faster, lights are flashed with some rancour. <br />
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Police are very visible on highways. There are random checks, and not many days go by without us being pulled over. The standard routine is a stern but curious approach, a lot of questioning in Russian to which we usually answer “Australia” and sometimes pull out car documents or offer licenses to further puzzlement. Then the head starts to shake, the palms go up, and we are waved on with a laugh and a handshake, but not before his mate arrives and they snap each other next to the cars. Next day it’s the same. We’ve never detected any attempt to extract a bribe. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zho7-GWN4d4/Vc4_Qss4hII/AAAAAAAAB0o/aY5yHtUz-_Q/s1600/Roadside%2Bapplause.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zho7-GWN4d4/Vc4_Qss4hII/AAAAAAAAB0o/aY5yHtUz-_Q/s320/Roadside%2Bapplause.JPG" /></a></div>Support for our classic cars is universal. Waves, photos, thumbs up, fist pumps, smiles, toots (from very close trucks), flashing lights, hanging out clapping. When they pass there is a salute of flashing hazard lights. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DstoKAqm5Og/Vc21cpA0V7I/AAAAAAAAByQ/J8COW448QDo/s1600/Road%2Bgang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DstoKAqm5Og/Vc21cpA0V7I/AAAAAAAAByQ/J8COW448QDo/s320/Road%2Bgang.jpg" /></a></div>Roads and streets are well signposted, uniformly throughout the regions we’ve seen, ie south to the Caucasus, east to Ekaterinburg, and now in the north-west. Roadkill is rare, and only foxes so far. There is a genuine attempt at road maintenance and the roads are well-built initially, but the volume of heavy traffic as well as the size of the country highlight the inevitable budget inadequacy at all levels. See some of our previous posts about roads and vehicle damage. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-78MJrR4keB0/Vc2zu2oBQeI/AAAAAAAABx8/H6T8RcTaL-Q/s1600/Servo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-78MJrR4keB0/Vc2zu2oBQeI/AAAAAAAABx8/H6T8RcTaL-Q/s320/Servo.jpg" /></a></div>“Service stations” generally provide fuel only, pre-paid through a small exterior window. No water, air pump, oil, paper, anywhere to clean diesel hands. The exceptional tiny minority offer oil, snacks, ice cream, but no iced coffee (where is Parmalat when you expect to see them everywhere?). As we get nearer to the tourist zone between Moscow and St Petersburg we have seen one Shell servo. As these spread hopefully it will put pressure on the rest to shape up. <br />
John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960828259379917709.post-13801212616622421362015-08-14T18:17:00.000+03:002015-08-14T18:17:44.398+03:00For Sale: A Whippet with ProvenanceOne well travelled 1926 Willys Overland Whippet.<br />
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Originally owned in Western Australia by Stan Perry of Kalamunda for 50 years, its current owner Bill Amann has taken this original car and driven it from Australia to Finland see blog - Bondi to the Baltic at:<br />
http://bonditothebaltic.blogspot.com.au<br />
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This treasure has been driven overland starting in Thailand in May 2014, travelling through 12 countries over 20,000 km and, at 89 years of age, has provenance and capability. An original vehicle, the Whippet will finish its trip in Helsinki, Finland on 25 August 2015, and can be purchased as is in Helsinki (or St Petersburg)<br />
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Owner Bill Amann can be contacted on <br />
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+79604011425 <br />
Or<br />
+61414756733<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EjV7Yoa_I8k/Vc4GPIhOM6I/AAAAAAAABzs/gOrXI0x1u7Y/s1600/Road%2Bto%2Bthe%2BVolga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EjV7Yoa_I8k/Vc4GPIhOM6I/AAAAAAAABzs/gOrXI0x1u7Y/s400/Road%2Bto%2Bthe%2BVolga.jpg" /></a></div>John McCombehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17650650293902717700noreply@blogger.com0