PSKOV - RUSSIA

07.45 o'clock, time to leave Riga

Refueling in Latvia 

We are approaching Russia at an unpaved road and the only cars that we've seen are the ones that are part of the challenge. It's an odd feeling.

Typical Russian sign along the road

Signing tons of papers in, which took about two hours and thats 'fast'..

Dear readers!

Early morning in Riga with a champion breakfast. Around 07.50 we left Riga towards Pskov,  a place just after the border of Russia. 

We had been given a so called close time, to het a private treatment at the border itself.  We had to be there at 11.00, with a small part through Estonia. 

Despite of our early departure, the distance was a bit longer than we had expected. We drove in this beautiful, abandoned landscape at sand roads towards the border, where we  arrived at just in time. 

The private treatment that we'd hoped for was explained and applied by the kind Russian officers, against our expectations. In Russia a private treatment certainly doesn't mean that your through the border very fast, but it means that they will explain the same subject over and over again. Three hours later we were aloud to drive through Russia. 

Our knowledge of the Russian language is pretty little, but we did find our way to Pskov very fast. 

When we drove at our first small village road, it was a brutal confrontation with the local roads or rather the lack of them. 

Unbelievable, how we had to drive slaloming around holes, pits and mud pools to avoid them with a speed of 10 to 15 kilometers per hour. All those people there live in a mud mess. 

Along the way we noticed this massive steel construction as a symbol for the great Russian agricultural capacities, which we of course took a picture of. 

Once we arrived in Pskov we took a stroll downtown, which was absolutely worth it.

Then we drank several beers with the travel group and after dinner we were ready for bed. 

Tomorrow we will be racing our heaviest and longest day to Moscow! Stay tuned!

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If you have any questions, please send an email to tourofbasics@hotmail.com. You can also comment on the blogposts and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

The last four pictures are taken by LUUKVANKAATHOVEN.NL Automotive Photography.