Russia 2010 - to Siberia until Lake Baikal (part 2)

Roughly 20,000 kilometers by motorcycle in 6 weeks.

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Irkutsk - after approximately nine thousand kilometers during two and a half weeks we are there!

The first destination was the (frequently mentioned in former Irkutsk motorcycle trip reports) "Bike Konur" where one can find accommodation among like-minded people - or better one could find, because in April or May 2010 it had been closed. But the local motorcyclists are caring nevertheless about our accommodation in a truck-stop's hotel at the outskirts of the town.

A broken luggage rack at Volker's Transalp - on partial stretches the roads were considerably "shaking" runways.

But a welding set is found quickly.

Also the luggage rack of my Africa Twin in the meantime shows several welded joints (and some diagonal struts which don't belong to the original design).

Exceptionally rather conifers than birch-trees.

Approaching the eastern coast of Lake Baikal.

Ferry to the island Olkhon.

Arrived on Olkhon.

Overnight accommodation in Yurts.

A small electricity transformer station.

This sand field shortly before the northern end of the island proved to be at least doable only with difficulties.

Back on the mainland.

Obviously here a forest fire had already been. (The large fire disaster in August 2010 was some weeks later).

Continuing the road up the Baikal's west coast.

This one is available for overnight accommodation.

Again in Irkutsk and there in the city center.

At rainy weather the puddles fill up, which in this number and size are not so common in Western Europe.

View into the central market hall in Irkutsk.

At the Southern end of Lake Baikal.

The winding railroad is somehow drawing reminds of the Black Forest railway line near Triberg ;-)

The station in Kultuk at the junction of the old Baikal shore line.

Road number signposting.

Motor homes are rarely seen - to be exact: this was the only one we saw in Russia (having travelled the way from Switzerland).

Greeting sign at the district border.

A ramp for maintenance work, as it's visible along the highways at some now and then.

Here the last ferry of the day has left already a while ago.

A few kilometer back there is an other ferry which works around the clock (however, without signposting at the relevant road junctions).

The second part of the river is crossed on a pontoon bridge.

Overnight stay directly at the east coast of Lake Baikal.

The Baikal's east coast has the status of a special economic zone.

Obviously here (shortly) considerably tourists are expected that don't cope with the Russian resp. Cyrillic letters.

There are no other motorcyclists on the road during several days - however, now here some were arriving exactly when we were ready to leave the restaurant after our break.

And when those wanted to continue their road, the next ones were coming: all of them long-distance travellers from different Western European countries - and remarkably nearly all riding Africa Twin, namely 6 out of 8 (in addition once the closely related Transalp - the eighth with his 4V-GS has not joined this photo).

A space driver monument.

Hidden behind these inconspicuous doors is a (the?) motorcycle workshop in Irkutsk, from which we hereby again say good-bye.

Continue to part 3

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