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26 Jul 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by colebatch
I met some Russian 4WD guys last year at Chara (Nissan Patrols from memory - sponsored up from a Moscow 4WD gear importer - so all geared up). They had come from Moscow, up to the BAM on the 110 (same way BlackLabb has come).
They had to abandon their trip at Chara and freight the cars home on the train, mainly cause the 110 was so tough on the vehicles and the stretch of the BAM from Novy Uoyan to Chara had finished them off. But I do recall them having gotten over Kuanda River without much drama - cant recall if it was on the bridge late at night or via a 6WD from the village. Sorry about not remembering the detail, but as I said, I do recall that Kuanda wasnt an issue for them.
The thing that scares me most for the 4WDs is the rail bridge crossings. There have been a couple of occassions on the past few years when motorcyclists have misread the tracks, and met a train half way across. For the bikes, they can throw them selves against the railings and the train squeezes past. Any error with a 4WD and its an instant wreck.
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I think there are 5 rail crossings from memory, would all of these need to be driven or would the water option be... an option?
G
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26 Jul 2013
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The 2 big ones would need to be by railway bridge, the 2 or maybe 3 others we crossed could probably have been crossed by 4WD, but it was easier to jump on the tracks. Also the rivers were low when we did it last year, this year maybe a different matter. All adds to the fun 
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27 Jul 2013
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Just arrived in Tynda from Severobaikalsk...
I arrived in Tynda last night along with Peter Berry (XR400) and the J.A.B.A MUNDUS | Motorcycling Around The world lads, Jon and Andrew (2 x KTM 690 Rallye)
Lots of talk about how tough the ride is but its all relevant. Relevant to:
- What you're riding (and how well you've prepped it)
- How much gear you're carrying
- What you're riding experience is
- And as Harryg mentioned, the weather. Not just when you're on the BAM but during the days/weeks preceding.
We had blue skies and sunshine on all but the morning of our final day. The water in the puddles was approx 30cm below the high water lines and so I (personally) think we had it easy. (Although a couple of puddles were approx 80cm deep).
Being (very) short in the leg its the rocky and/or murky water crossings that I find most difficult and so thanks to what I presume to be relatively low water levels I didn't find anything too difficult. I just walked my bike across the rocky rivers. (I'm riding a DRZ400 with approx 30kg of gear).
The big river crossing (W20 in the waypoint folder) has been replaced by a new bridge.
Other than that it was like a great trail ride but fully loaded. 
We all felt the worst section was Novy Uoyan - Taksimo. Walter; you need to upgrade your description from 'Rough Road' to 'kin Rough Road'! It didn't help that we were all riding with hangovers after stumbling across (Saturday) Girls Night Out in NU...   
It's a tiring ride that's hard on machinery. Our tally was:
7 punctures (all rears were nails, all fronts pinched by sidewall collapse)
1 Broken aluminium dash plate
1 leaking fork seal
1 holed radiator
1 snapped chain (that snapped the front sprocket & nut!)
1 engine filled with water (KTM - no names mentioned  )
The oldest, cheapest bike of the four (Peter's £800, '97 XR400) merely lost a seat mounting bolt!
Black_Labb - we saw your tyre tracks but somehow never saw you!
Quote:
Originally Posted by black_labb
The bam past yuktali is far from graded gravel roads. Looks like serious flood damage.expect it to be just as bad.more details wheni can charge electronics.im currently 100+km from yuktali and it might be improveing. We'll see soon
Found out the solo rider I missed before the vitim is an australian. Any idea who he is Walter or anyone else?
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It doesn't improve until after Lopcha
The bridge across the Chilchi River has collapsed requiring a detour across the unguarded railway bridge. However, someone has gone to reasonable lengths to deter anyone from doing so...
From the west...
From the east...
I'll finish on a lighter note. Here's our 'Porn Star' pose photo from the Golden Spike...
Last edited by JediMaster; 27 Jul 2013 at 12:11.
Reason: correct spelling mistake
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27 Jul 2013
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Well done chaps, its a great ride isn't it  enjoy a  and good luck on the next section.
Mark
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27 Jul 2013
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well done lads ... now for a boring ride up to Yakutsk and Khandyga, before the fun starts again.
You must have passed Black Lab while he had a day off in one of the railway huts, somewhere around where the three good concrete bridges are there in the middle of nowhere (about 300 km before Tynda).
He should be in in Tynda tomorrow. He is going to try the Eastern BAM after Tynda.
BTW, where's the pics of saturday girls night out in Novy Uoyan??
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27 Jul 2013
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NEVER...leave the guesthouse without your camera!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by colebatch
Tynda.
BTW, where's the pics of saturday girls night out in Novy Uoyan??
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Now then....I did say 'stumbled across' meaning we were unprepared and had no cameras...
Andrew had ordered dinner for us in the local cafe for 2130 so we all rolled in expecting to find just that...a cafe. But of course this is Russia so the cafe had a bar, dance floor and DJ...and a female:male ratio of about 8:1 !!!! 
After a few piva's and a couple of bottles of vodka we had the DJ playing the Sex Pistols 'God Save the Queen' and the House of Pain's 'Jump Around'. Not sure the Russian's knew what to make of us!
They say beware of the quiet ones. Well let met tell ya, that lad Pete can throw down some shapes 
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27 Jul 2013
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Well done boys!
Arrived fine back in Irkutsk myself and met up with Felix. Trying to conjure a cunning plan for the next few weeks.
Also met DakarJoe and partner on their f800gsas. They are carrying as much shite as I am,including the obligatory alli boxes.
Also passed a German TLC heading West East.
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27 Jul 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chris
Also met DakarJoe and partner on their f800gsas. They are carrying as much shite as I am,including the obligatory alli boxes.
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Yes will be interesting to see how they go on those heavy beasts. Joe is a BMW off road instructor, but I dont think Corinna is at that level.
The boxes will take a beating. One thing is for sure, it wont be fun on those bikes. At best it will be hard work. At worst, misery.
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27 Jul 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JediMaster
The big river crossing (W20 in the waypoint folder) has been replaced by a new bridge.
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Thats a pity ... it was one of the classic sights
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27 Jul 2013
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That was a good crossing, my friend almost fell over at the far side as the boulders were big and the river was running fast.
While waiting for his boots and socks to drain of water we had a cup of tea with the bridge builders sitting at the end of the old bridge. One of those 4WD Russian vans came screaming up the river and stopped dead on a boulder, they had to get a monster 6WD truck to rescue it.
Strange how they are repairing odd bridges on the track, wonder is they will eventually repair all the road?
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27 Jul 2013
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Funny looking at that van, amazed how the bloke just drove off after he was pulled out. Especially when you see the boulders under the front and rear wheels. Those trucks are indestructible!
We have those workmen to blame for ruining the river crossing 
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27 Jul 2013
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well if the bridge at Chara is burnt, then I guess they are going to have to repair that one now. Maybe they will even rebuild the bridge at Kuanda. Possibly even build a bridge over the Olyokma
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29 Jul 2013
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I was having tea and charging electronics at the station 100km after yuktali. Heard bikes but didn't see anyone when I got to the centre of town. I'm in Tynda now, will you 4 be around for a ?
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29 Jul 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by colebatch
well if the bridge at Chara is burnt, then I guess they are going to have to repair that one now. Maybe they will even rebuild the bridge at Kuanda. Possibly even build a bridge over the Olyokma
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The surface of the chara bridge is burnt along the western third or so. The steel frame is still there. All it will take is some railway sleepers and similar to replace the road surface. Someone will do it I assume.
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29 Jul 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by colebatch
No idea who the solo Australian is. On a motorbike or push bike? Cant find your reference to him in your blog. Its probably you.
Did the 4 motorcyclists pass you today?
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I only found out in chilchi about him. I had seen tracks after getting off track before the Vitim and was told in ilchi that a Australian on a motorcycle was there a week ago, I'm assuming it was him making the tracks after passing me while I was lost.
The other 4 passed me about 20 minutes after posting that while I was at the station having tea with he radio operator.
Last edited by black_labb; 29 Jul 2013 at 13:24.
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Just arrived in Tynda from Severobaikalsk...
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