The cool air of the countryside is brilliant as we head for the Urals.

Apparently Stalin moved industry from the West to the east so that the Ural mountains acted as a barrier. Good thinking.

As we arrive in Nizny Novgorod, looking for a place to stay a chap chats to us and takes our picture. He tells us he is a Biker and hopes we have a great time in Russia.

As we get to the next traffic light, who should be there, waving at us but the Biker. He gestures to us to follow him. "Great" I think. He knows a local hotel.
But soon we come to a private road where he turns into, past very smart new houses, smart cars and neat gardens, till we come to the end of the track and the large detached house with a swimming pool, that is his!

Both Serg and Galina are bikers, plus grandparents. We are invited to stay for the night and they put on a great feast and invite their neighbours round to say Hi! So we meet Costa,Helen and Alice.

Serg has a Harley Electra Glide that he imported from the U.S., plus a Mustang, a Jeep, a Mercedes SLK and a new Beetle.

4 trips to the U.S. and every time he has rented a Harley and ridden Route 66.

We have a lovely evening with them and head off to Kazan the next day. The place where East meets West. Minarets and Churches mingle and the Arab dress predominates.
This journey is more ad more fun each day.