Trans-Russia - how much water?
 

Hi

We're planning a trans-russian crossing this June-September.

Is water readily available most of the way? How much should we carry? Will 9 L per person be enough, not enough or too much?

Thanks!

water?
 

I never carried any ... just a 1 litre bottle of soft drink at various stages of consumption. Towns are everywhere ... Bottled water and coke and beer are everywhere.

It is not a desert. 9 liter of water you will need in Sahara. You don't have to worry about water on this road.

Thanks for that. I saw some pictures on another website and these dudes were stuck in about 4 feet of mud in Russia.

The mud didn't look very drinkable. It also looked like they were making very slow progress.

I was concerend about being stuck in the mud for a few days and running out of drinking water. But if you don't think it's a serious risk I won't worry about it too much.

Anyone else like to comment?

Since this is my first major ride I want to get the basics right. Water seems like a pretty obvious 'basic'.

Cheers
Bartman

I usually carried a liter with me, just to have something handy to drink. Hardest part for me was finding non carbonated water, the farther east ya go, the tougher it was to find. (marked не газ ...no gas on the label) I finally just refilled a bottle from the tap here n there. I never have gotten used to fizzy water.
Just remember that most gas stations just sell gas, if you want something to drink, you have to find a magazine (store... магаэин) There are starting to be more gas stations with mini markets inside showing up, but its not real common yet
Doug

Ok Bartman,

Explain me what do you mean writing "trans-russian crossing". If you are going from Moscow to Irkutsk you will have good road without 4 feet mud. If you want to cross directly from Norilsk to Magadan you will have a lot of problems ;)

You can cross Russia on the tarmac or find a very difficult unpaved road. Tell us smth about itinerary...

Don't really have a fixed route. Starting in Vladivostok on about May 28 2007, ride around for four months, come out at Finland.

I guess I'll have to follow the new road between Khabarovsk and Chernysevsk but after that I'd like to get off the beaten track a bit, it is an adventure ride after all. I'd certainly like to spend a bit of time around lake Baikal and the Altay region. :thumbup1:

Wouldn't mind trying to head north around eastern side of lake bakail, but unsure if this is possible (or wise) :funmeteryes:

I'm a bit of a country lad at heart, so not too keen to hang around the big (or even small) cities.

Keep the comments coming!

Cheers.

Bartman.

Thanks Walter. I read about your Tokyo - London project about 5 years ago. You & James' stroy is one of the reasons why I'm choosing Russia for my first big ride. I even emailed you at the time, not sure which one of you replied, but you suggested I bring a woman. I've taken your advice!

Great stuff.

Bartman.

Cheers Bart
 

I have just last month finished updating the site. I got the old daily dictaphone recordings out and listened to them for the first time in 12 years ... that allowed me to flesh out the text threefold. An currently in the process of rescanning all the slides from the trip.

For the route you are riding, have a read of these ... just a couple of stories I collated from emails sent out on trans-russian rides:

http://www.endless-highway.info/toky...n/mcmillan.htm

http://www.endless-highway.info/tokyolondon/attwood.htm

Might lend some colour to your plans .... though both of those are from 2004 ... and the road is considerably better now even than then.

Don't think about water, pray for a good wether!
 

You won't meet a road like everyone so on that pictures (cause I hope you are not crazy to go there). There are some villages with Coca-Cola during all your trip.:-))))
Get ready to spend a lot of time thinking about yourself wile riding through endless fields. It's not a New Zealand with a landscape changing every hour.
Anyway it's a good idea to start from Russia and please let me know when you will start, I'll try to tell about you to my friends that can meet you on your root. I'm planin to go to Altay, but probably I'll be there earlier then you. You're always welcome in Moscow, so just e-mail me.
PS: Look through the russian version of my on-line magazine on the next week, there will be a big article (in russian, sorry) and a gallery about my trip through New Zealand.
See you!

Vlad to Europe. Catch you on the way
 

Bill shockley and I are heading off about the same time (I arrive in Vlad on 3rd June), same direction. We will most probably go via Lake Baikal then down through Mongolia (Gobi), across Kazakhstan and then down into Turkey

Water water everywhere but not a drop to drink...
 

So why not carry a water filter. They are small and light or you can get some tablets. Good idea to have in case you get stuck somewhere with a broken bike or you fall in love with a place and want to camp for a few days.
You can boil the water but I have been sick several times doing it that way. Better to filter and then boil. MSR or Sweetwater make good water filters that are compatible with the 1L nalgene bottle.
I always carry my filter.
MSR - Mountain Safety Research : Water Filters : Sweetwater Purifier System


Bill.

Altay region is fantastic :thumbup1:

Welcome to Russia !
 

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