Do you think the quote is naive? No, and my life is the best proof. Or maybe just luck. But, as they say, lucky is the one who is lucky.
During my travels I always attracted attention to charity, to use any media occasion for good, not for the sake of self-promotion or hype. I always strive for a result, a concrete tangible benefit from the actions performed.
Let me remind you that this year, during the journey we have closed the fundraising for the second child. Together we are a force! Vadim and Timur are already undergoing rehabilitation (Vadim still had surgery). Now they will have a real chance to make the first independent steps in life.
In addition, I really wanted to remind my compatriots about the great Russian traveler and discoverer – Athanasius Nikitin, whom many have forgotten, schools have ceased to teach, and whose book is almost nowhere available to buy (try to go to any bookstore in your city).
When I left Tver, I took with me some mud/earth, which I collected at the monument to Afanasy Nikitin. What for? The fact that last year the Indian bikers have done the same thing – collected the land from a similar monument in India (Yes, there too, they have a monument at Revdanda) and brought it to Tver and Feodosia. (Video) (Photo report) This act was timed to the great anniversary – the 550th anniversary of the departure of Athanasius Nikitin. By the way, this year was also the 530th anniversary of the manuscript, book written by Afanasy Nikitin “Journey Beyond Three Seas.”
I thought it was a beautiful gesture that could unite our stories. I had no idea this idea would work…
However, on the 54th day of the trip I was found by the same guys from India – Russian Information Center in Mumbai (RIC), which for several years have organised moto tours in memory of Afanasy Nikitin bringing Indian bikers to Russia. They do a lot of social work on a volunteer basis: promote Russia as a tourist destination in India and Vice versa.
Agree, because the more people go to visit each other, the stronger Russian-Indian relations, thanks to tourism increases the welfare of ordinary people. In India, everyone knows Moscow and St. Petersburg, and in Russia many have heard about the beaches of Goa…
But our countries are so big! During the journey I visited so many beautiful places that are abandoned, in which no one comes… But tourism could develop these regions, attract new investors, return residents back from big cities to their homes…
Now I’m going to tell you about the journey, not just Facebook and instagram, but also on the website www.russinfo.in
So I have another travel destination and new friends waiting in India. They became my survival partners-provided a new phone with a good camera, a winter tent, a sleeping bag and other important equipment including a GPS tracker.
Yes, my old dream came true. Now, thanks to this device, you will be able to monitor my movement in real time, see where I am, with what speed I move and this will be the best proof that I am walking. Just log on to www.russinfo.in
Many meetings are already planned in India, where I will tell the Indians about my trip and about Russia. It remains only to walk.. After Saratov there will be Volgograd, Astrakhan, then through Kalmykia, Dagestan – to Azerbaijan and Iran.
It is important that my projects have always been at my expense, I have no official sponsors. The Russian Information Centre will provide organisational support, medical evacuation and Search-And-Rescue services, not financial. Since the last trip from St. Petersburg to Elbrus the debt was 200 thousand (but then we collected 2 million rubles for charity-it was worth it). Upon returning to St. Petersburg, it closed more than half, now it has increased slightly again… Fortunately, sometimes it is possible to earn something on the road and on the Internet (many thanks to those who decided to support me – all thanks to you) and gradually close the debt with a minimum monthly payment.
As you can imagine, my project is not particularly commercial. The strength of my belief, in success of the objective, in ideals, in good carries me forward. Russian kindness helps… There are opportunities, new friends. But, and there are losses, diseases, various difficulties.
This path is my whole life. I may make a lot of mistakes along the way, but who doesn’t? Thank you for your interest and attention. I’m always happy to hear your opinion. Moving forward, it’s just the beginning of The journey Beyond Three Seas!
Motobike tours, named by Afanasy Nikitin 2017-2019
The first motor tour in memory of Afanasiy Nikitin, organized by the Russian Information Center and Ivan Kovalenko (tour operator SNP-Crimea) took place in May 2017. Then guys from the bike club Surat SuperBike Club traveled to Crimea and visited Feodosia, where near the monument to Nikitin Avansia they met the city administration and handed the bag with ground, so that they was brought to India.
The second motorcycle tour took place in June 2018, Toda Surat SuperBike Club drove from Moscow to St. Petersburg via Tver. At the monument to Afanasy Nikitin, the city administration gave a whole presentation for bigcrow. Were solemnly scattered the land, brought by guys from India, gathered at a monument to Athanasius in Revdanda (Maharashtra), where the traveller first set foot on Indian land
The third motorcycle tour named Athanasius Nikita was priurochen to the opening of the Crimean bridge, and was held in April 2019. Then the Indian bikers drove over the bridge with the flags of Russia and India, and after a traditional meeting with the administration of the city of Feodosia at the monument.
