Brilliant!

My bike is now safely in the hands of (sounds like) Genie. Marina sent a guy called Alexander and with his help, and the help of half a dozen hotel staff and a taxi driver, I was taken to a workshop in an industrial area where I was delighted to see an array of bikes, bike parts, and a man with a welding torch.

My bike will be ready tomorrow, and they're even going to do an oil change and replace my ripped fork gaiters.

Thank you so much to all who have tried to help me, I would still be stuck if not for the HUBB. I can't begin to say how grateful I am.

I will post a GPS coord and some more details on finding the place when I go back tomorrow. Meanwhile I'll post the few photos I managed to take just now. This place looks like they could deal with most problems especially anything structural.

Again, thanks a million!

Message from Michael
 

Todderz
pls check your p.m's

I have been in touch with Mike mikesworldtour.com
and asked if if could look up a specific number for you- his reply is in your p.m


He is now in Vlad with his friend Elliott who has a busted r1200gs which blew up at 16,000:eek3: and they will be on their way to Japan soon.
You might want to hook up with them
his user name here is mikesworldtour

Well I've just arrived in Vlad and I'm absolutely elated! Sitting in the lobby of Hotel Vladivostok having a celebratory Baltika No. 7! Brilliant!

Thank you so much to everyone who tried to help me. I can't begin to say how grateful I am and how happy I am to have made it to Vlad. I'm trying to go RTW but this really feels like the finish line, it always has.


The guys at the workshop did a fantastic job, working till 7:30pm yesterday, not just a saturday but also the main man Evgenie's birthday! They charged me really very little for 2 days hard work, they put me right to the front of the queue and were brilliant. They splinted and welded my frame and pannier rails, changed my oil and filter, replaced my split fork gaiters, adjusted my chain tension and a dozen other little things, all with great care and attention. I've never seen someone apply chain lube so carefully! There were 4 people working on my bike at 7 in the evening on a saturday. Would you get that at your local dealer?!! The bike has just done 500 miles to Vlad and it feels perfect.

I will post a gps coord and more details of the workshop when I get organised. These guys were great. They even showed me bike/girl porn, gave me stickers and a key ring made from an AK47 bullet and invited me to a motocross meet. What more could you ask for?!!

Once again a huge thanks to all of you. You've helped me achieve the most ambitious thing I've ever attempted and I'm walking on air right now!

I'll have another Baltika on your behalf. Cheers!!

Al

Pokraska polirovka motoremont

ulitsa industrialnaya 8A

telephone 8924-201-7914

Yevgeni Alexandrovich

N 48 25.278
E 135 06.937


I wish I could provide directions but it's not easy. Head south of the city on one of the main roads and eventually there's a load of industrial estates and it's in there somewhere. The coord ought to get you in the right area, then ask around. There are railway lines, tram lines, and big cooling towers nearby. There are loads of car repair type places in that area.

Or ask a taxi driver.

Hope this helps someone. Take along a foreign coin for Igor the tall thin one with a moustache and you'll be well in, he's a mad keen collector. I only had a Euro but take something from Albania or Mongolia and he'll drop everything to help you!

Once again, my sincere thanks to you all.

oops, sorry was out of radio contact for well over a week there. Glad you got it sorted.