Start
So, on August 13, 2004, having put on my motorcycle the flag of our sovereign state, I set off on the road. I was accompanied by my family, my wife Natalia, my children Dima and Denis… And of course friends bikers, Fazer (Valikhan Koshumbaev), California (Damir Ashigaliev), Srazhadinych (Erzhan Duisekeev), Margeladze (Eduard Smirnov), China (Talgat Chinikeev), Uncle Vova (Vladimir Primakov) and others….
This Way was "covered with fog", but it beckoned with the unknown, which promised incredible adventures and new indescribable sensations. A lot of people tried to talk me out of it. Especially Phaser, but… I STARTED!
On the first day I rode 1000 km and realized that I had been a fool. You can't overload yourself like that without having some experience behind you: afterwards my whole body ached – my back was falling off, my arm was pulling. And about 100 km before Karaganda, an eagle flew at me, blew out my windshield and hit my helmet.
But I do not think that he wanted to harm me unintentionally, it was just getting dusk, and he was probably either looking for shelter or food. Then all the way across Europe I returned my thoughts to this peculiar collision and thought what this omen could mean. And later I realized that it was a good sign, because I had traveled many kilometers on the first stage and came back alive and unharmed. So why not continue?!
In Astana, I was accompanied by Anatoly Khrapatyi, Bulat Abilov and NP journalist Anita Zhikhor. I got to Moscow and met with members of the most famous bike club, the Night Wolves.
After communicating with Moscow bikers of the "Night Wolves" team, I was supposed to enter Europe via Belarus. But I got the information that at that time.
Not far from St. Petersburg, in the village of Olgino, the largest bike show was held. How not to go. On the way I made friends with a biker named Kasper and together we drove to St. Petersburg. Local bikers made a sensation: the president of all bikers of Kazakhstan came to the show. He had never given so many interviews in his life. These journalists turned everything upside down and called me a biker – a round-the-worlder. Although I have not made a single kilometer around the world. In general, it was a powerful AWANS from their side. Of course I made friends with many local bikers. Among them is Oleg Kapkaev (aka Oleks, by the way also that motoputavlyavnik), who witnessed my start around the world. It's been 16 years and we always remember that meeting. In general, the start is given through the city of Vyborg. And then there was a mishap in Finland. I crossed the border, there is a barrier, and I move on. After a few minutes I find two police cars in the mirror. They brought me back. It turns out that I had to go through customs control, which I corrected. When policemen found out that I was a biker-traveler, they wished me a good trip, but asked me to wear a helmet instead of a hat. And they invited me to visit. Skipped Scandinavian countries Germany Poland Italy (I saw Pope John Paul 2, for this I specially came to the mass in Vatican. Mass starts at 12 o'clock, and lasts 20 minutes. The Pope rides his wheelchair out to the balcony and blesses the congregation.
About 10,000 people gather in the square in front of the balcony. They say that the Pope loves bikers, but unfortunately, I was not able to make sure of it personally. The next country is France. I had a planned meeting in Rennes with the committee of twin cities Alma-ta-Rennes. Before Paris I spent the night in a roadside hotel. Woke up early in the morning, rains every day.
I decided to drive towards Paris. I thought I would have problems – I would spend the night somewhere…. In Paris, I met with Nurbulat, the ambassador's assistant. After lunch I walked along the Champs Elysees and bought some warm mittens.
I decided that in all countries on my way I would purposefully visit our embassies or representative offices. After all, it is a part of our homeland and generally pleasant meetings with fellow countrymen.
In the morning I got a call from the embassy – an interview with MOTO magazine at 11.00. A girl came with a photographer, they asked me questions about how I was making my round-the-world trip alone and unaccompanied. Having said goodbye to everyone, I went to Rennes, twin city of Almaty. Almaty. The route was 500 km from Paris. Arrived in Rennes, I thought to present gifts at the city hall from our Akim of Almaty Tasmagambetov I.N. and go further. But in the city administration I was asked to stay one more day and visit the meeting of the committee of twin cities Rennes – Almaty. In the evening I made a welcoming speech on behalf of all Kazakhstani people, thanked for hospitality and warm welcome, gave gifts from Almaty. We took pictures. All Frenchmen were simply delighted with my story about our country, my journey. In the morning they placed my interview and general photos in the newspapers. It was nice. I would like to mention the chairman of the committee Mrs. Henri Gabriel Nalin. They received me very warmly and with great responsibility and gave me a letter of thanks from the Mayor of Rennes to the Akim of Almaty.
I left for Madrid. The sun was not happy for long, cold rains fell on Europe with renewed vigor, giving no hope for mercy. Made it to Bilbao. Very beautiful
places. In Madrid, met with the embassy staff while the ambassador was away. They organized a press conference, a tour of Madrid, and invited me to an international tourism exhibition. Kazakhstanis recognized me from afar, my hat, as a business card of a biker-traveler, worked 100%. Then Portugal. Lisbon… Seville, Gibraltar
