To bring you up to date;

After leaving Poland and the easy parts of Europe things started to change. We had our first crash in Lithuania. Around midnight we were travelling at around 90mph when the brand new dual carriageway we were on just came to a dead end. We managed to slam the breaks on but just scraped the diversion sign which had obviously been knocked over by a previous traveller. After this the road became a dirt track so we decided just to camp by the side of the road.

Russian land border crossings: If at all possible don't do them. There were only around 20 cars in the queue but it took 5 hours, multiple form stampings and permit purchases before we crossed. It wasn't so much the wait but it was incredibly bureaucratic and inefficient, things we have since come to expect in Russia. We only have to cross the Russian border another 3 times.

For more great Russian photos go to his site http://rulon.by.ru/

I'd never been stopped by the police before I started this trip. We've now been stopped 11 times in the last 3 days including 6 times on the journey from the border to Moscow. We were speeding a couple of times but the Russian transport police are everywhere and pulled us over on a whim. It usually followed a set pattern, they ask for documents and then for money. Values ranged from 300-100 USD. However by playing dumb (not that difficult with our level of Russian) the most we've paid is 15 Euros. We've been let off mainly, paid off one with cigarettes and a pack of Fisherman's Friends and even started to make a profit when Ingrid charmed a cigarette and an orange off one policeman.

The traffic in Moscow was terrible however not moving quickly has it's advantages. A big black Merc with blacked out windows kept passing by us. A gold dollar sign hung from the rear view mirror, loud Russian techno blaring out the windows and 4 guys, either Mafia or trying to be, all enjoying themselves inside. However after saying hello to them a couple of times they pulled right in next to us and started passing us the vodka and coke of which they'd obviously had a few. Mobile vodka service from the Russian Mafia?

We had a bit of a break in Moscow before again hitting the long straight roads towards Semara and then Chelibinsk. Long straight bad roads full of diesel fume spouting trucks gave plenty of opportunity to experience Mexican driving. I never realised but it seems you can overtake on the dirt track hard shoulder just as easily as the road when required! The main image of these roads is the small villages we passed through where old ladies would be sat outside their houses selling the particular wares of that village. Each village specialises and they vary from bags of potatoes to one complete village of woolly socks. There was even a couple of villages towards Cheliebinsk which sold only inflatable sharks and dolphins, I've no idea who would be travelling along and suddenly think 'Just what I need, an inflatable crocodile'.

We made it into Kazakhstan yesterday and immediately noticed a much friendlier atmosphere, even the customs guys were relatively helpful with the customs chief himself helping out (it still took 3 hours). The land here is just flat as flat can be. Wheat fields and roads that go straight for miles on end. We spent last night in Kostani which against expectation seems to be a very pleasant and modern city. Very friendly locals plied us with cognac from the region last night so today is a late start as we head towards the capital Astana.

Hope to report in again soon.
David