Diary: Biker Festival in Nakhodka
Diary of biker Dmitry Petrukhin. Record 22.
Biker Festival
in Nakhodka
And here it is – Russia. This is my second time in Vladivostok. Last year, when I rode the third stage of my motorcycle rally through South and North America, I arrived here from San Francisco in November. And now I am met by the president of the festival, my friend, Igor Sokolov, a solo biker, popularly known as Sinus. This is the most legendary person in the Russian biker movement. So, thanks to him this famous festival "Facing the Ocean" was born. It has already become traditional and is held for the fourth time. I was met with Igor by local bikers. Nice! As they say, from ship to ball.
Monument to the assembler.
A press conference of the organizing committee for the festival is scheduled for one o'clock this afternoon. Everything is very serious, almost all Russian TV channels, newspapers, magazines are present…. In general, the mood is high!
After a three-month "imprisonment" in countries where you hardly ever hear Russian speech, Vladivostok seems like paradise. And I already feel that I've overdone this motorcycle rally – it turned out to be too long and long…. But it's okay, nobody forced me to do it, so I can't complain. And now I am preparing to go to Nakhodka, where the 4th festival of bikers will be held during 3 days. There I have an appointment with Fedor Konyukhov, who lives permanently in Nakhodka and, like me, is an invited guest of the festival.
Speaking of the guests of the festival. A biker came from the USA
Doug Wottke on a 1948 Indian Chiff motorcycle. He and I became fast friends. We talked about the South and North America. He had traveled everywhere there by himself. Was very happy that during my trip across America I traveled through 24 states and visited his homeland, the state of Louisiana. He promised to drive his retro to Kazakhstan. Well, may only good luck follow him! Belgian Christian Schoen also came, riding a Ural retro motorcycle (Russian-made!). On his way to Vladivostok he had an interesting incident. Being at a bike show in Tomsk, he met a girl and proposed marriage to her. He says he will get an answer after the festival, on his way back. In general, there were a lot of bikers in Nakhodka – both foreigners and from CIS countries.
A few words about the motorcycles that were present at the show.
Ulan Ude Lenin Square.
These are mostly enduros and touring bikes. There are practically no elite expensive sportbikes or stunning Harleys to be seen. But when I was at a bike show in Hollywood and in St. Petersburg (Olgino), I was dizzy with supernavorovornye motorcycles. One more beautiful than the other! However, simple bike shows should also have a place in the sun. After all, beauty and extreme are inseparable.
During the opening ceremony of the 4th Festival "Facing the Ocean" there was a parade of flag bearers, and the flag of our motherland – Kazakhstan – floated in front. During the official opening ceremony I was entrusted to raise the flag of the festival. Oh, it was an unforgettable moment! Then the anthem of the festival was played, the mayor of Nakhodka, representatives of the parties "United Russia", LDPR and others spoke. The press later wrote that it was the best of all 4 festivals. There were a lot of nominations, I was recognized as "Biker of the Year". Music was going on for three days on the ocean shore. Disco till morning, 24-hour swimming in the ocean, various contests, volleyball…. Several famous rock bands performed. Even at the opening there was a famous Russian orchestra led by Selivanov. In addition to bikers, who numbered more than a thousand, about 3 thousand guests came. All lived in tents. Discipline was at the level. Many people made friends and just relaxed. In general, the holiday was a success!
The Nakhodka festival is the only one in the world, and its popularity grows every year. Another thing is that it is difficult to get to it, but that's exactly its zest! After all, if you are a long-distance biker, it doesn't cost you anything to cover such a distance. And I, in my turn, learned a lot of interesting things here and I think that, being the president of Kazakhstan bike club, I will try to implement at home all the good things I saw here. We also will make a festival and invite our biker friends and guests to it. All the more that people like it.
Time flew by. There was a closing ceremony. It is difficult to assess the significance of this event, but one thing is clear: it is just a cool vacation not only for bikers, but also for guests and just vacationers. In a word, it is some French St. Tropez on Russian soil. Thanks to friend Sinus and his team! Meanwhile, with some sadness everyone says goodbye and promises each other new meetings on the Pacific coast.
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