London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 13 – 9 September 2016
Arrival in Moscow
After the excitement of entering Russia yesterday, we enjoyed a comfortable night’s rest at the filling station where we had been kindly allowed to stay. To our pleasant surprise, the station had excellent facilities, including clean showers.
There is nothing quite like a hot shower after several long days on the road, and by the time we had freshened up, we felt ready to tackle another day of driving. Following a light breakfast, Team Kontiki climbed back aboard and continued the journey towards one of the world’s most famous cities—Moscow.
The roads leading towards the Russian capital were generally in good condition, making for comfortable driving. As the kilometres passed, the landscape gradually changed, and there was a growing sense of anticipation amongst us. Moscow had featured prominently in our route planning from the very beginning, and now we were finally approaching it.
We stopped briefly at another filling station around lunchtime to stretch our legs and enjoy a simple meal before continuing our journey. By now, travelling in the motorhome had become second nature. Meals, fuel stops, route planning, and border crossings had all become part of our daily routine.
As we drew closer to Moscow, traffic naturally became heavier, but the roads remained efficient and well maintained. The vast scale of Russia was becoming increasingly apparent. Distances that would cross entire countries in Europe barely seemed to scratch the surface here.
At around 5:30 pm, we finally arrived at Sokolniki Campsite, located near Moscow. After several long days of driving and uncertainty, it felt good to settle into a proper campsite once again.
The weather was noticeably colder than we had experienced in much of Europe. As evening approached, a chilly breeze swept through the campsite, reminding us that we were now much further north and east than when we had started our journey in Leicester.
The first priority after parking up was a hot cup of tea. There is something wonderfully comforting about sitting inside a motorhome with a steaming mug of tea after a long day’s drive. As we sipped our drinks, we reflected on how far we had come since leaving Berlin and how quickly our fortunes had changed.
Most importantly, Kontiki was still running well. The mysterious gearbox noise that had caused so much concern had completely disappeared, and for the first time in many days we felt genuinely relaxed about the mechanical condition of the vehicle.
Later, we prepared a hearty dinner of minced chicken and rice, which was perfect for the cool evening weather. Sitting together around the table, we discussed our plans for the following day.
Tomorrow would not be a driving day.
Instead, Team Kontiki would become tourists once again as we set out to explore Moscow, the historic capital of Russia. From the famous Red Square and the Kremlin to the grand boulevards and impressive architecture, there was plenty to look forward to.
As we settled down for the night, excitement was building. We had crossed half of Europe, entered Russia, overcome our mechanical problems, and reached one of the great cities of the world.
The adventure was beginning to feel very real indeed.
Distance travelled: Russia towards Moscow
Location: Sokolniki Campsite, Moscow, Russia
Weather: Cool and chilly in the evening
Dinner: Minced chicken and rice
Highlight of the day: Arriving safely in Moscow with Kontiki running smoothly once again
Join us tomorrow as Team Kontiki takes a break from driving to explore the magnificent city of Moscow, one of the most historic and fascinating capitals in the world.
