Baltic states (& Russia?)

[iswoolley]

I'm planning a lap of the Baltic States next July/August time. I'll be starting from Sweden and heading over the top of the Gulf of Bothnia into Finland, then south west through the Baltic states into Poland, Germany, and back to the UK. I've got about a month set aside for the trip, and it'll probably be me solo on my Africa Twin.

So, the questions;

a) Is a detour into Russia and St. Petersberg worth the hassle?

b) What *is* the hassle in getting me and bike into/out of Russia? (Visa, carnets, delays, etc.)

c) Recommendations for places to go/see in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania? (I lean more towards stunning scenery than stuffy museums)

d) Availability/cost of hotels/b&b/campsites in the Baltics? (Planning on camping at the moment, unless b&b are that cheap)

e) Attitude of locals to comparitively rich tourist on a comparitively expensive bike? (Will I stoned by kids as in Algeria?)

f) Who publishes guide books for the Baltic states? Rough Guide, Lonely Planet, etc.?

g) Same question for maps? Michelin, I guess?

h) As per a) and b), is Kalliningrad worth a detour?

Okay, thanks in advance. If this thread has been done to death before, please post a link to it. If someone has done this trip before and got the all-informative website, please post a link to that. Cheers to all in advance.

Iain