MONDAY 15th JUNE 2009 (FISHING & LEAKING DIFF's)

MONDAY 15th JUNE 2009


Wonder if we'll leave today...??? We have our doubts! We wandered up to the market, this time taking more time to see the sights. Much to Paul's delight he found a section 'out back' that sold tools, plumbing equipment, electrical items and anything else you'd find in a run-down hardware store. There are only so many fruit and vegie stalls one can look at.


We were being picked up at 10.00am to go to Igor's for our long-awaited 'technical survey'. Our bags were packed and we were ready to go (again). As we have come to expect 10.00am came, 11.00am came and just before midday Roma and Svet arrived. All we can do is STAY CALM...!!!
We hadn't anticipated much of our time being spent inside an apartment watching Ukrainian TV...!!!
Roma's computer came out....this time they began 'work' attending to emails, etc. We sat politely for a while then retired to the lounge to wait it out. The plan made last night is that we would depart at 8.00am this morning! Obviously way off base with our interpretation.


Svet, Paul & I went for lunch at a genuine Ukrainian 'old-time' restaurant 'BARENYCHNA' and the food was the best we've had. Most enjoyable. Borsch and dumplings. In fact, for a while there things looked up.



Mid-afternoon we were taken (by yet another taxi) to meet a fellow who restores war memorabilia. Michel KYRYLUK is a true craftsman. There are many items found regularly in the surrounding district as this is where many large battles were fought, many soldiers died and their effects have remained buried. The helmets and guns are badly corroded but to see the process of bringing them back to life was great.


As we were leaving we were surprised by Anatoli (our bikes original registered owner). We were very pleased to see him. He is such a genuine and sincere man and he again wished us the very best for our travels and gave us a tub of honey that 'he grew' from his own beehives.


Time is marching on and obviously too late to leave Cherkassy today! We were informed that we are now going fishing...!!! (Had to delete the words typed in this space!). We had been asked three times and three times we'd declined. So now, we are going! Volodya BRUS drove us to the Dnipro River. As it turned out it made a refreshing change to be out by the water and the trees, watching the birds fly and the fish jump (but not on to our hook!). After about two hours I figured we weren't going home until we caught a fish. FINALLY, it happened and we were on our way to Igor's for 'technical survey' (test ride). Time - 8.00pm!


It was decided that Igor (who has no licence) would ride, Roman would be pillion and Paul would sit in the side-car. After some miles on the country roads Paul would ride the bike back. I remained with Igor's wife and son (Tanya and Roma) along with a trusty English-Russian dictionary. Amazing what you can learn from someone when you don't speak their language!


I heard the bike return and soon learned the mirror had fallen off (this is the second one), the bike would not charge the battery and the rear diff leaked BADLY. Another night time session working on the machine! I was given a tiny stool to sit on and watch proceedings.
I was also told that the bike was uncomfortable and it wouldn't go over 40 kph as it had a tab in the carby preventing the slides from raising fully and preventing over-revving during the 'breaking in' period. Without a word passing between us we both came to the conclusion this bike might not even make Odessa let alone the route we had planned!

A pleasant distraction was when a small hedgehog appeared - WOW. B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l. That made my night. Apparently hedgehogs are very common.



We got home at 11.30pm and Paul's first words were..."I need a beer". He went and got one and we sat silently in our apartment. We are nearly a quarter of the way through our holiday and not one mile has been ridden!
We had expected some complications from an old bike that has been sitting in storage for 41 years but never anticipated the difficulties and conditions which these nice people must work in. They ARE doing their best to help. Roman works overtime trying to make things right, Igor works on the bike well into the night and Bodya always seems to be available. Thanks fella's. Afterall, it is much better to have these problems sorted here than somewhere on an isolated road.
MAY BE TOMORROW...