It's cold in Moscow , this time of year - commrade.....Yes !! - Er no
Alarm call goes off but I am awake already - no change there then !!. Breakfast was probably the best we've had, although very similar to all the others. We are now set into a routine, I get two juice ( one each) while Mark gets his breakfast and gets two tea's while I get my breakfast, two helpings this morning. Every where we go, each hotel, the bikes cause men,women and children to stop and stare. Men talk about them in groups of two/three. We leave the hotel with a map and directions off the receptionist, but we don't use them as we pick up some road signs ( there's a lack of these in most cities) and are on the road and out of the city in 30mins. We're up to speed 65/70mph - Moscow or bust. However with the police check points ever 5/10 km or uneven roads its not long before we have to slow down. Still weather gorgeous, really hot so we have to leave our jackets open!! The sun stays out till9.30pm, which is good as we don't get to Moscow till 10.00pm. We hope we've picked up an hour but no luck. We stop and I go to try and get directions for a hotel, Mark gets chatting to an Austrian guy who's been in Russia for 5 years but say's he wants to leave. As we are getting directions a Toyota land cruiser pulls up and a big rotuned guy with glasses get's out and say's "he's a biker"(Bmw Lt 1200)and a member of the outlaws motorcycle club. Andrey is his name. He rings round and gets us a hotel in the city centre for 4500 roubles for two nights( cheap in Moscow) normal price 7000 for one night. He then gestures for us to follow and before we go tells us to keep following and don't worry about the police.......(gulp what have we got our selves into again). We arrive at the hotel, from the outside a shabby, run down looking place. The inside confirmed it, but as long as its warm,dry and clean with hot water we don't care. Andrey then proceeds to give me a outlaws t-shirt, with I obviously accept (size XXL). We sort the room out with Andrey's help and he show's us were to park the bikes. Bikes parked, Andrey pays the guard and tells us not to worry( this guys great). He also leaves us some drink and asks us if we would like a girl for the night(2000 roubles all inclusive as Andrey said). We decline but offer to take Andrey for a drink tomorrow. Andrey accepts and we depart to our room. A big place, it's bigger then Oleg's place in Novosibersk. Landed on our feet again and only 500meters away from the Kremlin. How goods that, sight seeing tomorrow, YIPEEEEEEEEEEEE. Mark and Paul