Krupskaya Siberia Tour 2018
In 2018, Krupskaya embarked on a tour of Siberia.
Over 9,000km in three weeks.
I kept a diary.
Introduction:Woah, we’re going to Siberia!
In August 2018, Krupskaya decided to challenge ourselves with one of our more ridiculous adventures yet: tour across Siberia, over nine and a half thousand kilometres in three and a half weeks. Oh, and survive, preferably.
Read EntryPart One:From Birmingham to Saint Petersburg
It begins – three and a half weeks driving across over nine thousand miles of Siberian wildlands! Will we die? Will we suck? Will anyone show up? All these mysteries and more, will be answered!
Read EntryPart Two:Lost within the trees of Moscow
Tonight we play in a forest in Moscow and the only directions we have are – when you find this tree, turn left. I admire Russia’s simplicity, I must say.
Read Entry- "Matt puts his foot through the stage – talk about breaking a leg. He’s bleeding.I don’t care."
Part Three:From Red Square to an island forest in Nizhny Novgorod
As we venture toward Nizhny Novgorod, little do we know that today’s events are going to involve getting lost in another forest and a bare penis. Yay.
Read EntryPart four:It’s like Fury Road, but shit
How to you beat a beautiful night by the water in Nizny Nozvorod? By waking up to the single greatest sight anyone could hope for.
Read Entry- "While explaining the details, he departs for a quick pee against a wall. The sound that follows is akin to that of an avalanche and tidal wave of at the same time."
Part Five:I could stay here PERManently, heh heh heh
Today we experience Perm and perhaps most amazingly of all – Alex singing on Rock Band. Step aside, Glenn Danzig!
Read EntryPart Six:Yekaterinburg is awesome
Today we visit Yekaterinburg, an incredible city which further challenges any preconceptions I had about what Eastern Russia would be like.
Read Entry- "We’re looking at around seven trizillion hours on this one. Or four, if you want to be pedantic."
Part Seven:Tyumen, Welcome to Siberia
Today marks our venturing into Tyumen and with it, our official entrance into Siberia itself. Exciting times.
Read EntryPart Eight:We must be OMSK our way!
Our first full day in Siberia takes us on a journey to Omsk, the fabled city of idiots.
Read EntryPart Nine:NOvosibirsk show for us
Our show in Novosibirsk is cancelled and so, a day of relatively relaxed driving between cities awaits us.
Read EntryPart Ten:Tomskward, to Glory!
Today we travel to Tomsk. Not to be confused with Omsk. We've already been to Omsk. Now we're going to Tomsk. Different place, mate.
Read Entry- "I really dislike heights, incidentally. I really, really dislike heights."
Part Eleven:Tomsk and challenging my fear of heights
Today marks the first of three without a show. Such days can be expensive, but they also mean we get to experience more of a place than usual. Which is good.
Read EntryPart Twelve:Our Final Day in Tomsk
Our time in Tomsk draws to a close as we enjoy one final day of relaxation.
Read EntryPart Thirteen:Some place between Tomsk and Krasnoyarsk
As we bid goodbye to Tomsk, we set forth for a day's travel across Siberia toward Krasnoyarsk.
Read EntryPart Fourteen:The wonderful city of Krasnoyarsk
We're given brief respite from the endless expanse of Siberia, thanks to the colourful, vibrant and slightly mad city of Krasnoyarsk.
Read EntryPart Fifteen:Irkutsk, city of Angels
They say, this is the city! The city of Angels! All I see are dead wings! The Distillers did some good shit.
Read Entry- "We eventually stop at a gas station for some supplies, a leg stretch and toilet time. Denis did warn us that the standard of toilet facilities would drop sharply in the East. He’s not wrong."
Part Sixteen:The Big One, Lake Baikal
Krupskaya’s tour continues as we cross the world’s deepest lake – Lake Baikal.
Read Entry- "I can’t say I’ve seen an absolute ton of lakes in my time, but absolutely none have dwarfed their surrounding landscape. The mountains, hills, trees and clouds all look positively miniature compared to the lake itself."
- "The sense of enormity is difficult to capture. It’s something I’ve been struggling with for the duration of the time we’ve been in Siberia. "
Part Seventeen:Buryatia and the Sleeping Lion
Cheese, bread and black cats. I mean seriously, what better start to a day could one ask for?
Read EntryPart EighteenTV Appearance in Chita
The whole 'keeping our heads down' thing gets put to one side so we can go on TV. Watched by 5 million people.
Read EntryPart Nineteen:Is this the way to Blagoveshchensk?
Our journey across Siberia comes to 'somewhat' of an end technically, as we approach Blagoveshchensk, a city that sits alongside China.
Read EntryPart TwentyBlagoveshchensk, I can see China!
An unhappy lady, quest for food, view of China and prolonged sound check characterise our experience of Blagoveschensk.
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