Chernobyl day seven, Gomel to Kiev
Friday August 31st
Friday, easy day ? The idea was we get up for breakfast, do a bit of shopping (those that were in the mood) then at eleven we go visit the kids. Sorted.......well not exactly.....close though.
The breakfast was different, butter, cheese, salami & sweetcorn for the first course. Followed by potato pancakes, they are actually not so bad, with cranberry sauce we think. They brought us a drink of something between carrot with orange and tomato juice! Aaahhh. We had tea and coffee
We were parked in the secure park at the ear of the hotel by the guard, unfortunately we failed to notice the workers van we had penned in, well Allan and Andy had, so while they went of walk about and Andy had a lie in Mike 'C' and I moved the truck and his machine. Still we did learn some Russian swear word's.......I think?
Three of the helpers from the orphanage came to collect us as arranged, Linda used the same hotel. She is a loverly woman, bit of an Earth mother, real nice. Of we went at around half eleven. The journey to the orphanage took about 30 mins but it takes us across a plane, the wind is awesome, hard in from the west, like riding a wind surfer, fun but daunting.
We arrive at the kids home not to a standing ovation but a subdued greeting, until we parked! They went daft, little kids in wheelchairs, on crutches, hobbling or just walking but with twisted limbs and bodies these kids are mainly sufferers of cerebral pulsey (?) One young girl, Lillya or “cheeky monkey”, but one of several with a growth defect was 18 years old, wheelchair bound and no taller than an 8 year old, with the spirit of a lion. Many could speak English all were so exited they did not know which bike to sit on first, usually the one with the engine running, we hit the rev limiter so many times! Dave 'T' did his watch my screen move and “scare the teach” by showing the kids where the horn was just as someone walked past, he and Mark 'T', not to sure who is dad, son or whether they are both just big kids. ALL of us struggled with emotion even the ex squady Mike 'S'. Big softy's all, these kids and there life, as it is, make our troubles worthless and feeble, very, very humbling. Mike 'C had the privilege of taking the Director of the school for a spin, he came back a funny shade of white saying something about the worst passenger and never again. Te He!
Any way we got through that and left, with the traditional Russian squeeze box ringing in our ears and a few moist eye's..............maybe?
Next the boarder with Ukraine, the journey to the boarder was novel. First we go for LPG for Andy 'T's truck, our guide jumps the cue and asks / tells the other customers to be patient, so they wait, amazing. Next we run the wind fields again only this time the wind is with us so it is nit so bad. On to the motorway, you know the one with the stray dogs and cows at the road side. You don't believe, ask Borat? We reach the boarder at around 14:00 and leave at 18:30 and we were quick!
Andy found out he was 10 euros short on his insurance for the car so he had not been covered all the last two days, mmm, and he was ragging us.
Eventually we leave, 12 very tired and ragged people, it was getting dusk and we had a 2 ½ hour drive at least. It was achieved remarkably well, one dodgy bit where the road changed sides from dual to single lane and back over the biggest man hole I have seen to date, or rather did not see, neither did Dave 'K' it turns out. To bottom out on a Tranny is enough but Dave got his fillings tested me thinks..........ouch! No damage done but scary.
All the machines are on good fuel again, the difference is noticeable, Dave 'T' even gets flames from the BeMa when it fa.....back fires
John 'G' rejoined the group today, he waited 4 hours for us to get to the boarder, it is good to have him back with us, he went to Mogaluf (?) to see his aid child and family. The same village Dave 'K's child come in from I think. A brave men, we thought.
Arrival time in Kiev 22:30, on the 24th floor we are with Mc D's across the way. Feed me NOW!
We have been lucky with the weather again, it has stayed dry and getting warmer to boot. Funny this but one or two have commented on this being the turn around point,going south the west in a days time. First however R4 Chernobyl, tomorrow.
It is now 02:18 so I am going to bed ta ra xx