So the previous day we walked around the lake looking for an alternative way out. We were following a decent trail when some kind of low riding Japanese car came around the corner on the trail. We both smiled and said ok I think we found our way out! If he can come down that road we can get out easy. We turned around went back to camp and relaxed the rest of the evening.
The next morning we headed out. The trail was great then it turned into a sea of sand. There was no traction and the bike going every way you can imagine. I was having a really difficult time, with the street tires on the bike, to stay up right.
Finally we saw the main road but to get there..... Well it was going to be interesting.
This is what we came to!
Its hard to tell in the pic but it was incredibly steep and the sand was about 5" deep. I told my photographer "ummm I am going to have to ask you to get off the bike. Also when I attempt this you probably need to push. I really dont know if I can make it up this mess."
I revved the motor dropped the clutch and she pushed. sand was flying everywhere and the bike was barely moving, but moving it was! It took some work but I finally got some traction and flew up the last bit onto the road! I grabbed the clutch but I noticed immediately it didnt disengage properly. I pulled over parked the bike and said " Break time!" After 30 minutes the bike cooled down and everything was back in working order!
We continued on. Passing through villages and small dirt roads that were grown over with trees.
We stopped in one village looking to buy a bottle of water. They laughed and said water... In a bottle? Why pay for it when its free from the ground!
We ended up at this place near Rivne. Its called the Tunnel of Love. Its rather famous in Ukraine and actually the photos from it circulate around the world, just most dont realize its in Ukraine.
Its an old train line, I think a train still runs on it like once or twice a year. I have to admit I wasn't looking forward to this. I was pleasantly surprised! It was so beautiful!
The further you went the better it got!
My photographer wanted to get back to Kiev, she had to work the next day. So we drove to Rivne and I dropped her at the train station while I continued on.
next stop was Tarakanov Fortress. I didnt know what to expect but again it wasn't far so I decided to stop.
It was unreal! An old Fort, built in the late 1800's and since abandoned. now you can walk through it and all the tunnels associated with it!
You have to go through tunnels to get inside the fort, of course
Then you are inside the fortress, I guess it would be like a courtyard.
You get to walk around all through out the fortress. Just roaming freely and cautiously so you dont fall in a hole or off a balcony.
When I went back to the bike I noticed some oil under one of my forks, the one that I recently rebuilt.... so I was off to fix that!
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