But, it became September and a 2 prong urgency began to creep in.
Riding to Москва (Moscow) after September is a little iffy. Hitler tried something like that. I'm getting too old for riding on ice. But, I had promised people in Wyoming I would go.
The other urgency was that my motorcycle visa was about to turn into a pumpkin. Driver's license, passport and registration are required to ride in Ukraine. The motorcycle also has a visa stamped on a page in my passport showing the date it entered. It's only good for 60 days. After that I'd need to title, register and tag it in Ukraine to legally ride it there.
Alternatively, it can exit Ukraine prior to expiration. The visa stamp in the passport is canceled by an exit visa stamp. Then, it can come back across the border and get another 60 days.
Ukraine does not require a visa for a tourist to stay 90 days or less. I have one because I wanted to stay longer. This grants me multiple entries for a year. I can legally come and go to/from Ukraine.
So, it was time to go to Moscow.
Russia, however, requires a visa for a tourist. It's only good for 2 weeks. Plus, you must get a letter of "invitation" from an entity at your destination. You can get that online through Russian tourist and lodging agencies.
Russia also requires you to get your visa at the Russian consulate in your home country. I didn't do that, but I had a legitimate exception via the length of my stay in Ukraine, even without "residency."
The visa is a fancy thing that occupies a whole page in the passport. I found out they hold the passport for a couple of weeks to do this.
However, Ukraine requires you to have your passport for ID at all times. This meant I would need to "lay low" for 2 weeks. I certainly could not cross any borders without my passport. Also, during that time my 60 day motorcycle visa would expire.
So, I applied for a 2 week invitation to Moscow for late September/early October. Then, I took off on a ride to Moldova and the Carpathians. I always wanted to go there, anyway.
I am told Moldavians are largely of Gypsy descent. I don't know, but some of the ladies are exotic looking dark beauties. The authorities at the border were friendly and gave me the easiest time of all I encountered. Once across the border it was easy to find affordable lodging.
Once settled in, I went out on the town. I found...Lenin! All over what was the Soviet Union are statues of him.
The following day I took some pictures of Lenin and the church as I departed in the rain.
Moldova appears to be a poor country. The roads in Northern Moldova are deplorable. In some places potholes are so numerous, deep and wide that more of the surface was hole than pavement.Still, it is a beautiful, mountainous countryside. The hills are like the Carpathian foothills in Ukraine.
Unfortunately, it's tough to enjoy in a torrential downpour on a motorcycle. I didn't stop for more pictures. I beat it West, picking a line between the potholes, trying to find some sun.
Eventually, I got to another border crossing to Ukraine. The pattern repeated. Moldovan authorities were easy. Ukrainian authorities were a little testy and had more rules and things to scrutinize.
Blessed by Ukrainian authorities with new visa stamps in my passport, I continued to explore the Ukrainian countryside.
I finally got tired of the rain and turned East toward Киев. I found a comfortable place to overnight with a shower, beer and a meal.
Some day, I would love to go back to Moldova and the Carpathians for a while in fair weather.
The following day was sunny and dry. My return to Киев was enjoyable, but uneventful.
The next day I took the metro and brought my passport, support documentation and fee to the Russian Consulate. It was accepted and I got a receipt with the exact time and office to pick it up.
Russian embassy personnel are a little stiff. But, I got a couple of them to crack a smile. One even went online to give me the Moscow weather report.
Most regular Russians I found to be quite friendly and fun loving.
