Rivne

I am still somewhere in the North-West of Ukraine. Rivne to be precise. Roads have been better than expected so far, so it is actually feasible to do 150km a day. People have been much more friendly than I thought they would be. It probably helps that I look so alien, they are simply curious what is behind this weird outfit. And then being on my own most likely also helps.

I didn't have much trouble to get into Ukraine. First I was told bycicles were not allowed to pass this border post.. only cars. But then the same guy found me a van which would take me and my bike across the border and drop me on the other side.

It's been really hot the last few days, very humid as well. Yesterday I was totally tired at some stage, but two coffees and one litre of cold water later I was as good as new. And so I cycled through some really beautiful back country... sometimes it looks like time has been held still here. Many houses are nicely painted, colourful flowers in the front yard. Every single person I have asked for help has so far been friendly and trying to answer my questions.

Last night I had a closer look at my maps.. of Ukraine and Russia. And I really don't think that 3000km will get me to Yoshkar-Ola. But I then decided to think about this question at the time I have reached the 3000km.

By the way, a lot of things are different here. But then.. underneath the cover it is all the same. The girl next to me in this internet cafe just walked in, logged into facebook, and first thing she does is that she grows eggplants or something on her farmville thing. People do the weirdest things all over the planet :)

I better get going. Have to get out of my hotel room. Heading towards Kiev. But it will take at least 2,5 days to get there. Should be about 375km from here. But on the roads I am taking it is probably more like 450km. 3 days. If things keep going well.

Last night, when I was cycling into Rivne, I had an ant under my shirt. Unbelievably painful, this little bugger peed on me a few times while I asked people for a hotel...great. You can't really jump off the bike and start scratching in the middle of an conversation. Not even after the conversation with people watching all the time. Finally, about 30min later, I got him, when I was standing right in the bright shining lobby of the hotel. But I let him run off.