Day 613km
Trip 7504km
Bike 12529km
Leaving Ekaterinburg was easy – although the most urban and ‘up to date’ city in russia so far – spending more than 2 days here becomes a little bit of a drag. Especially since we still have a bit of road waiting ahead for us 😉
Since I always loved the Ural motorcycles (actually having owned one years ago – here is a pic)
… we made a slight detour to Irbit, one of the 2 places where they are still being build (the other being or having been Kiev). Its a small town of approx. 50.000 inhabitants and apparently all they make is Ural bikes and some special glas. Don’t know about the Ural employees, down from 10.000 to 200.
Still, finding the factory wasn’t easy- a bit hard to spot since it really doesn’t look like a factory and it’s totally run down. We met lutz and anatolie standing in front of it- anatolie working here and lutz being a canadian trying to install some CNC machines for them. He also sells Ural bikes in Halifax, Canada
Ural Canada
Here are some pics, so you will understand what I mean:
We desperately wanted inside the factory of course – and these 2 were game – but a phone call made it clear: Marina was in charge (whoever she is), and she made us wait and wait …
After travelling for 7000km, we eventually gave up (hope a side car will fall on your head next time you march through the factory Marina), and decided to have a look at the small museum around the corner (which is run by some very friendly people).
Some true gems to be seen, including my old M-72 with two wheel drive AND diff lock (which I had bought from a friend, who before had bought it from the polish army). They mainly featured Urals of course, but also Zündapps, BMW etc. In a closed off section of the museum (we were granted access when they saw we were enthusiasts also- but NO photos there), the had Norton, Ducati, Guzzi etc.
They made 3 Million of these Ural Boxers – see the bike further down.
Anyway, we tried to get into the factory again- but still no sign of Marina. Well, maybe she was under the sidecar already …
So, we decided to look what was cooking in the Ural kitchen – and that was a nice experience too. Friendly russian mamas cooking for the hard working class:
After this meal, we decided to say goodbye to the Urals and head for Tyumen.
The landscape was glorious, sometimes it looked like a golf course, then again forrest or a sea of yellow wheat with islands of trees floating in it.
The driving was excellent, maybe the best so far. We were able to take smaller country roads, no traffic and no trucks! Subsequently the roads were in much better shape too.
We passed Tyumen on its outskirts and it looked like a real nogo. Hundreds of ugly highrise appartmentblocks, thick traffic etc. We went on for another 150km approx. and made camp in yet another truck stop. Actually this one is rather ‘posh’.
Aaah, miami by night.
offwe_r 