London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 16 – 12 September 2016
A Wrong Turn in Moscow
Our final morning at Sokolniki Campsite began with yet another opportunity to meet fellow adventurers from around the world.
The previous evening, a new team had arrived at the campsite. We quickly got to know Kunal, aged 31, and his wife Devanshi, aged 29, an Indian couple from New York who were undertaking the very same journey from London to Mumbai in their 2009 Nissan Versa. It was remarkable to meet another team attempting such an ambitious overland drive.
As we chatted, we discovered that we would be sharing the same guide during the Chinese section of our journey. Knowing that we would meet again further down the road made our brief friendship even more special.
The morning was spent socialising and exchanging travel stories with fellow campers. We also met Matthes and Petra, a friendly couple from Switzerland who, like everyone else at the campsite, shared a passion for exploring the world on wheels.
By late morning, the campsite began to empty. Kunal and Devanshi departed for the hostel where they planned to stay, while our French friends, Alain and Hélène, headed north towards the beautiful city of St. Petersburg.
It was time for Team Kontiki to move on as well.
Before leaving Moscow, however, we decided to take one final look at the city that had entertained us, delayed us, and introduced us to so many fascinating people.
What happened next would become one of the more memorable moments of the trip.
With Ramesh behind the wheel, we headed towards the city centre. Unfortunately, while navigating the busy Moscow streets, he accidentally took a wrong turn and drove into a road leading directly towards Red Square that was clearly marked as No Entry.
Within moments, a police car appeared.
Our hearts sank.
The officers were not impressed and quickly made it clear that we had committed a serious traffic offence. The language barrier did not help matters. The police spoke virtually no English, and we spoke no Russian. What followed was a mixture of gestures, maps, paperwork, puzzled expressions, and attempted explanations.
For a while, it appeared that the matter might escalate into a court appearance.
The prospect of being delayed even further in Russia was not something any of us wanted to contemplate.
Fortunately, after a lengthy discussion and considerable persuasion, the matter was eventually resolved with a payment of 4,500 Rubles, equivalent to approximately £57 at the time. Whether it was an official fine, an administrative penalty, or simply the easiest way to avoid spending the rest of the day in a police station, we never quite established.
What we did know was that we were free to continue our journey.
As we drove away, there was a collective sigh of relief inside the motorhome.
The experience had been stressful and more than a little frightening, but it also provided another story to add to our growing collection of travel adventures.
By early afternoon, Moscow was behind us and we were once again heading east towards Kazakhstan.
However, leaving a city of over twelve million people proved easier said than done. Traffic was heavy, roads were congested, and progress was painfully slow. By 8:00 pm, despite spending most of the day driving, we had covered only around 150 miles.
It was one of those days when the road seemed determined to test our patience.
Eventually, we found a small compound next to a filling station and decided it would make a suitable place to spend the night.
After parking up, normal motorhome life resumed.
Ramesh prepared a delicious fish curry accompanied by rice and freshly made chapatis. After the day’s excitement, it tasted particularly good. We relaxed with a well-earned drink and reflected on the events of the day.
The wrong turn, the police encounter, the traffic, and the slow progress could easily have dampened our spirits.
Instead, we found ourselves laughing about it all.
Most importantly, Kontiki was running beautifully. The gearbox that had caused so much anxiety in Berlin was behaving perfectly, and once again we felt confident about the long journey that still lay ahead.
As we settled into bed that night, parked beside a filling station somewhere east of Moscow, there was a growing sense that the real adventure was only just beginning.
Tomorrow we would continue our drive across the vast Russian landscape towards Kazakhstan and the heart of Central Asia.
Distance travelled: Approximately 150 miles (240 km)
Location: East of Moscow, Russia
Night halt: Small compound beside a filling station
Highlight of the day: Meeting fellow overlanders from New York, Switzerland, and France
Most memorable moment: Accidentally driving into a No Entry road near Red Square and being stopped by the Moscow police
Dinner: Fish curry, rice, chapatis, and a relaxing evening drink
Join us tomorrow as Team Kontiki leaves Moscow far behind and begins crossing the immense distances of Russia on the long road towards Kazakhstan, China, and ultimately Mumbai.
