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Vladimir Yarets
From the LDRider list:
Vladimir Yarets, the tough-as-nails, 62-year-old, deaf-and-mute Russian from Belarus who has been nursing an old Jawa 350 two-stroke around the world tangled with a semi about a week ago on I-74 near Le Roy, about 20 miles southeast of Bloomington, Illinois. Details are sketchy, but he's said to be in stable condition at the St. Francis Hospital intensive care ward in Peoria with two broken legs, a broken pelvis, a broken arm and who knows what else. Many who attended the finish of the Iron Butt Rally in Missoula got to meet this guy. I met him there and he later spent some days recharging his LD batteries at my home in St. Paul, Minnesota. The guy has a big heart and an amazing talent for making friends wherever he goes. One of those friends is Anastasia Kitsul, a native of Russia and graduate of Yale and now of Puerto Rico who helped Vladimir for several weeks when his Jawa got tangled up in a customs mess or something when it was being shipped from South America. Anyway, she has been kind of his behind-the-scenes helper during his travels, and she called me last night with the news. She's trying to get the police report, but what she heard so far was that the Jawa had stalled on one of the freeway lanes, or was going really slow. She heard that the semi tried to swerve around him but couldn't and the truck nailed him. She is trying to help locate his bike, explain things to the hospital, get the accident report, contact his family back in Belarus, etc. She asked if I knew any long-distance riders who might live in the Peoria area, and if so, would anyone be able to stop at the hospital and say hi. She knows it would mean a lot to him. And just to be honest about all this, if you stopped in to say hi, who knows where that might lead. Also, she's hoping to locate the bike (they said it was totaled) and get it out of storage before those bills get too high. Vladimir was packing a LOT of stuff on the bike, including an amazing collection of maps and pictures of his world travels. Anyway, if anyone in LD land is willing to swing by and say hi to Vladimir, send me an e-mail and I'll give you the phone number of the hospital. I'm at jcwinterer@stthomas.edu. Probably most of us know what it's like to have bike troubles far from home, and some of us know what it's like to crash and need care. Vladimir has gotten himself into a real tough one this time. I imagine he must be pretty miserable, compounded by his inability to talk or hear. He can read a little, but Anastasia said his glasses were either destroyed or are with the bike, so he can't read the faxes in Russian that she has sent him. Let's hope this can somehow have a happy ending. |
I heard from a friend of Vladimir last evening. He is doing better and will be moved to the orthopedic unit as soon as a bed becomes available.
John |
I've cross-posted the info here to ADVRider. There are some people there that know him as well. People should hook up and see if we can set up PayPall or some such for him.
http://tinyurl.com/s04b |
I suggested PayPal to John yesterday, he's on it. I think.
If someone sets up the account and takes responsibility for dealing weith it, we can host it here no problem. We would but we'll be away in Mexico for a critical week. Next week. Grant ------------------ Grant Johnson Seek, and ye shall find. ------------------------ One world, Two wheels. www.HorizonsUnlimited.com |
Grant, I think Jim Winterer in Minnesota is working on the paypal thing. I will check to make sure. If he doesn't want to do that, I will see about it.
John |
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You beat me to it, Kevin. I posted it on that other site, also.
John |
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God Bless all you brothers & sisters for rallying to Vladimir's side. We met him in northern Ontario last June riding around the Great Lakes. He was on his way to Alaska & we compared notes (I went up in 1979) He looked me up in Denver & stayed 5 days; great parties but he was anxious to move on. I told him that large "lawnmower" of a bike shouldn't be on the Interstates. (The last Jawa I saw was in Alaska!) I'd rush to his bedside but too far, winter is nigh, & I'm looking for a job. Thanks for stepping up to the bat for a real biker.
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Hello,
I'm from the ADVRider forum, and wanted to make sure everyone here was aware of the PayPal account set up for Vladimir Yarets. You can access the account by going to the Caring Bridge web site : http://www.CaringBridge.org/il/vladimir and following the link there, or by going directly to http://www.paypal.com and following the directions for making a payment. The payment address is vladimiryaretsfund@togsoftware.com If you have not done so already please log on and make a donation. Just $10 from all the regulars in the LDR forum would mean more than $1000 for Vladimir. You can follow the ADVRider thread at: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...5&pagenumber=1 and there are several links from the Caring Bridge site listed above. This is a chance for everyone in the LDR commiunity to rally together and support one of their own in need. PLease take a minute and donate, every little bit helps! Thank you!! |
I passed a Jawa with a TON of stickers on it about 6 weeks ago now - he was going east as I was travelling through Big Horn national forest Wyoming. I think it was Vladimir - only because I was grounded to a halt in the snow about an hour I passed him and that the guys I met in the lodge said that a really friendly Russian guy stopped by that day. He made a big impression!
Hope he is fit soon. ------------------ http://colesyboy.tripod.com |
Hello all,
I have not met Vladmir but would like to contribute some money. What is the latest re. the PayPal account ? hed |
No changes to above info re PayPal at this point.
------------------ Grant Johnson Seek, and ye shall find. ------------------------ One world, Two wheels. www.HorizonsUnlimited.com |
Just tried to make a donation but PayPal is down for maintenance until 0330 PDT?
Anybody able to tell me what this equates re: GMT? I assume it's a US time zone of some sort - Pacific ???? Time? Thanks Steve |
PDT = Pacific Daylight Time - which is now off, it's now PST = Pacific Standard Time, and it's not US specifically, it's also western Canada.
PST = GMT minus 8 hours. In other words, quitting time in London is start work time in Vancouver. 0330 PST = 1130 GMT ------------------ Grant Johnson Seek, and ye shall find. ------------------------ One world, Two wheels. www.HorizonsUnlimited.com |
Thanks, will phone later this AM.
Steve |
Update: May 24th, 2004
Vladimir just left my house for points unknown. He is heading somewhere northwest the best I can understand. He pointed to Nova Scotia on the map. If you run into him, don't be worried about anything. I left him in my house for 3 days (while I was at work and running errands)..he is trustworthy and very kind and compassionate. My friends and I are better people for having run into Vladimir. We had a very good time for the last 3 days, exchanging pictures, and telling stories. We also put some good reflective tape on his bike, repacked his gear and had a good cookout on the grill. I wish him well and I hope to hear from him in the future. If you see him please contact me. P.s. He is also a very accomplished runner! ------------------ William Guy R1100GS round the world in 2008 |
Hello,
An update on Vladimir Yarets, the Russian, deaf-mute motorcyclist that got hit by a semi truck in illinois. He was reportedly in Canada trying to get back into the United States, and because his Visa is expired, was not allowed back in. However, a chap that I talked to on the phone said that he was trying to get Vladimir to Mexico via air. Talk about someone making such an impression on people that they get him donated air fare for him and a bike....QUITE A GUY! You really should try to meet Vladimir, he's an amazing spirit. Gotta run |
Hello,
An update on Vladimir Yarets, the Russian, deaf-mute motorcyclist that got hit by a semi truck in illinois. He was reportedly in Canada trying to get back into the United States, and because his Visa is expired, was not allowed back in. However, a chap that I talked to on the phone said that he was trying to get Vladimir to Mexico via air. Talk about someone making such an impression on people that they get him donated air fare for him and a bike....QUITE A GUY! You really should try to meet Vladimir, he's an amazing spirit. Gotta run |
Just wanted to let you guys know that when i was shopping in my local Harley shop i walked out and saw this wild looking BMW F650 loaded with gear and stickers from all over the world on it. I met Vladimir and he showed me all of his pics and showed me on the maps taped to his side bags where he had been. What an amazing person! After some searching i found his name and it lead me here. I figured you guys would like to know he is well and still traveling. I feel blessed to have met him and spend a few minutes. A remarkable person....
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