Bukrin Bridge Head

I had three days to do something. HMMM I figured to go south. No real reason other than I hadnt been there much.

I asked around and Olga wanted to tag along for the first day then she would take a bus back to Kiev.

We were trucking along when I felt something hit my right foot. I couldnt figure out what it was until I tried to use the rear brake and couldnt find it with my foot! I pulled over to see whats up. The pin that holds the brake pedal to the rod had come out. Looks like the cotter pin vibrated out of and then that allowed the pin to fall out.

I got out my trusty tool kit and went through it.

I carry about a half dozen random bolts and nuts and had one the right size to fit. So I installed it and we were back on the road!

Our first stop of the day was at the Bukrin Bridge head, you might remember it from a previous post when I saw it from the water Boating on the Dniepr

To get to the monument we had to walk up this old rickety wooden stair case.

When you finally get to the top this is the first view you get

A little reminder, again this is a controversial subject especially this particular battle it was a complete failure for the Soviets. Soldiers were crossing the river in anything they could get their hands on. Many just stuffing their jackets with hay to use to float across. Some reports say every third man had a rifle. The Germans claim to have losses, thats killed or injured, around 55,000. Some reports that Soviet loses were over 200,000. Nobody seems to know for sure though.

The lists of names that lay under here

It was a very beautiful area and well kept, other than the stairs to get here.

Today I am testing out my new riding gear :) I decided to go with a pair of overalls. That way I can carry all the needed paperwork on me for traveling and crossing borders.

Also at some point many many years ago there was a fortress here that was raided by Mongol Tartars.