Eternal outskirts of Moscow and beyond (LOTS of pics!)

Skorohod · Jan 25, 2020

I've noticed a cat down the path, wild and fierce:

One of overgrown basins:

Old lighting tower in the distance:

Riding alongside abandoned railroad:

That road is made of railroad crossties:

Vintage powerline tower:

That's all for this week!

neptronix · Jan 30, 2020

marty · Jan 30, 2020

neptronix said:
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Test successful! Looks like you fixed it. Without people like Nepy. There would be no internet. Thanks for the server space

We got a lot of really nice stone churches in Buffalo NY.

952caf16dbf2f952387dcf6391898278--mls-service-beautiful-architecture.jpg

Skorohod · Feb 1, 2020

Hurray! Thanks to neptronix we got Eternal outskirts of Moscow back online! Thank you all for support!

marty said:
We got a lot of really nice stone churches in Buffalo NY.

Oh, that is genuine neo-gothic architecture, very impressive! Also, it's very rare in Russia (here mostly pseudo gothic buildings which bare some resemblance to its inspirational style). I can remember only one famous genuine neo-gothic building in whole Moscow: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_the_Immaculate_Conception_(Moscow)

upd: Just remembered another one - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Andrew%27s_Anglican_Church,_Moscow

j bjork · Feb 1, 2020

It is so beautiful and ugly at the same time :?

I like the abandoned places and deserted buildings, so nice to explore the abandoned roads and railroads.
It is sad with the trash and pollution.
I really like old car graveyards and places like that, where you can see cars from the 40:s or so. Trees growing right through and stuff like that

I don't think there are much places like that left in Sweden, or the abandoned places like in your pictures. Sadly they have been "cleaned up"

Skorohod · Feb 2, 2020

j bjork said:
Sadly they have been "cleaned up"

Yep, same problem with "cleaning up" here, in big city. And same mixed feelings about it. But if one dare to ride further, one will be rewarded! The problem is only in distance and time, as always...

It's a funny coincidence - my next post will be about riding for 500 km just to see some landscapes different from Moscow

Skorohod · Feb 2, 2020

My most epic ride yet, the pinnacle of summer 2019! I've decided to try different approach to long-distance riding and bought a petrol generator. Some of you probably seen my brief report here: https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=97328&p=1492708#p1492708

In this topic my report should be not so brief! Ok, let's go.

I've start with quick local market research. Soon i've found smallest and lightest generator from widely presentent ones. It was popular chinesse built inverter model which can be find all around the world, locally known as "Patriot 1000i". Then i've simply attached it by strap to side of my trunk:

I've start generator and plug my 7,5A charger in, that went well. From that point i've got myself "constant" source of 600W power capacty. My calculations were simple: 6 kW*h in battery + (10 hours * 0,6kW from generator) = 12kW*h power within 10 hours ride. With top speed around 50 km/h, average speed around 40 km/h and average power consumption around 30 Wt*h/km that gives me 400 kilometers of day ride! For comfort and safety reasons i consider to myself no more than 350 km per day with little overhead. Soon i've went to my first two-day weekend test trip with generator. I've rode for 19 hours and cover a distance of 521 km with 8 litres of petrol for generator.

Skorohod · Feb 2, 2020

My first brief stop was more than 100 km from home, outskirts of Protvino town:

On a far bank of Oka river you can see gentle hills. Finally, something different from forest-in-a-swamp Moscow landscape!

Drakino village:

Just check up distance between Drakino village and Tarusa town - i was so excited of non-stop ride that i forgot to take some pictures. Exit from Tarusa town:

500 kV powerline crossing Oka river near Alexino village south of Tarusa:

Skorohod · Feb 2, 2020

My first refuelling stop. After four hours of nonstop running my generator got it first stall. I've put some gasoline from canister into generator and after couple hiccups i've got power again! I've covered 143 kilometers from home so far.

This funny airplane-shaped things must be some protectors from... debacle, i suppose?

Gravel road up from Oka river:

After Alexino roads became swampy:

Very swampy! Look at this mess:

Gravel road to Alexin town:

Crossing a border between Kaluga oblast and Tula oblast:

Skorohod · Feb 2, 2020

Watt-meter says i'm done! And voltmeter says i'm alright

There was a some psychological border i've been crossing:

Some sleepy village:

I've quickly crossed Alexin town with only small stop on exit to buy some water and snacks. Empty road from Alexin to Yasnogorsk:

I've rode around Yasnogorsk and and then went to border between Yasnogorsk rayon and Venyov rayon of Tula oblast. Pond near Burakovo village:

Tarmac ended at Gorshkovo village. Plenty of dirt roads waited ahead. Farm near Gorshkovo village:

SlowCo · Feb 2, 2020

That is a nice hybrid type solution. Just like an Opel Ampéra. The gasoline engine only provides electricity and no direct propulsion. Beautiful trip. Wish I could still sit on a bike that long.

Skorohod · Feb 2, 2020

After farm roads i've went to forest. That deer stand tells me i've entered yet another hunting range:

Muddy crossing of small creek ahead:

That mud pool said to me "I need your clothes, boots and your motorcycle". I've only drop one boot and took some mud on my clothes instead:

On a picture it's doesn't seem serious, but that was a tricky crossing for a solo rider:

Besides that, my generator stalled again. About time - it's been another 4 hours, 263 kilometers total from home so far:

I've refueled generator again and went to struggle with wet dirty roads. After some hard kilometers i've reached firm ground:

Sun is setting, time to go to bed... I've turned to some field nearby and pitched a tent. Beautiful sunset over Tula oblast fields:

Skorohod · Feb 2, 2020

It's a good thing, those days been hot. I've been covered in wet mud:

Well, that is a globalisation in a nutshell - eating McDonalds in a middle of nowhere, in a tent on some russian crop field:

My face, when i've absorbed such a deep thought:

Well, that was it, a first day of my ride. 273 kilometers for 11 hours:

Generator was humming through half of night. When it's stalled voltmeter reached above 80 Volts - more than enough. Another half of night i've spent in silence. With a roommate:

Skorohod · Feb 2, 2020

Early morning. I've put what left of petrol in a canister to generator and started it again:

After a quick stop on a gas station i've entered outskirts of Metrostoyevsky settlement:

Stone from that abandoned quarry went to construction of Moscow subway, hence the name of settlement (literally "Settlement of Metro Builders"):

Exit from Metrostroyevsky:

Skorohod · Feb 2, 2020

Empty roads, crop fields, beautiful sunday morning and not a living person for kilometers around. Only me and this roads:

Bus stop near Schuchie village:

Bridge across Osyotr river:

Hills and fields as far eye can see:

Skorohod · Feb 2, 2020

I've reached one of my goals for this trip - Shuchie Hillfort. I've stopped to enjoy the views and get some hot tea with chocolate:

Skorohod · Feb 2, 2020

It's time to go home. I've refuelled again and went to nearest tarmac road to take me home. Last of dirt roads in that trip:

After not-so-comfortable kilometers on busy roads with gusts of wind, big trucks and excruciating pain in my thighs i've reached my garage. Here some muddy souvenirs:

Day two - 247 kilometers for 9 hours:

All went suprisingly well! Noise from generator was tolerable, no break-downs nor hickups whatsoever. Total fuel consumption from my rough reconing - around 2 liters per 100 kilometers, not great, not terrible!

That's all for this week

Skorohod · Feb 3, 2020

SlowCo said:
Wish I could still sit on a bike that long.

I don't want to pretend, that was hard. My main concerns was about spine (i've worn backpack whole trip) or about butt (that was obvious thought)... But, to my surprise that was inner part of thighs to gave up first! Hurt like hell after trip, but it was worth it

markz · Feb 3, 2020

That green bike reminds me of the 2wd russian motorcycle, https://newatlas.com/taurus-2x2-2wd-fat-wheel-motorcycle/44616/

Skorohod · Feb 9, 2020

markz said:
That green bike reminds me of the 2wd russian motorcycle, https://newatlas.com/taurus-2x2-2wd-fat-wheel-motorcycle/44616/

Nice bike, but limited to dirt roads and total offroading, i guess. Hard to maintain enough speed on hard bumpy roads on those fat tires without suspension.

Skorohod · Feb 9, 2020

I was so overwhelmed after my trip to Tula oblast, that i didn't ride for almost a month. I've commuted and rode for everyday needs, but not to distant locations. And on the verge of summer end i've finally crawled from my sofa and went to abandoned A-35M battle station.

I've just installed new trunk and desperately tried to stuff it with camping gear:

Untranslatable word play in waypoint names to confuse an enemy:

There it is, barbed wire fence of forgotten might of ABM system:

Radome of homing radar:

Skorohod · Feb 9, 2020

That 25 tonne silo lid should be opened in fractions of second to make a way for 33 tonne anti-balistic interceptor with pick velocity up to 200g's. That is incomprehensible combination of masses, velocities, speeds and timings.

Just look at this test launch (it's from much modern ABM system, but enough to get a point):
[youtube]RK6W0OATveQ[/youtube]

Those ABM interceptors was equipped with thermonuclear warheads. Fight nuclear fire with a nuclear fire!

Skorohod · Feb 9, 2020

To find a little warhead somewhere behind horizont and aim an interceptor to eliminate it - hard task even by today standards. This ABM system was developed in late 50's. We shall never knew how effective it was... and that's a good thing.

Inside of one of homing radar buildings:

Weary military roads:

Remainings of magnificent Dog House ABM radar:

Skorohod · Feb 9, 2020

After my visit to Dog House remainings i've went to my friend's dacha. Beautiful colors of sunset on my way back:

Night was cold and morning started with heavy dew. I've opened my trunk to dry it:

After a couple a weeks i've went to abandoned S-25 SAM system site.
Just a some facts about it:
1)Development starts in late 40's.
2)Modern A-107 and A-108 circumstantial roads around Moscow - was built exclusively for deployment of S-25 system. Megatonnes of reinforced concrete was buried there.
3)Some SAM missiles was equipped with nuclear warheads. They were supposed to blow armadas of B-52's from the Soviet skies.
4)Unlike modern ones that SAM system was completely stationary! 56 battle station sites was builded around Moscow, all with concrete roads, auxiliary supply bases, personnel settlements and whole bunch of other expensive military stuff. That was a project with unbelievably scale of epicness!

Let's see, what remains of one of battlestations. Old concrete roads in deep forest:

Some ruins (they are not from 50's, it was more recent buildings):

Skorohod · Feb 9, 2020

A sudden concrete Dalek:

Eternal outskirts of Moscow and beyond (LOTS of pics!)

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