Georgia/Azerbaijan/Russia or Mugello MotoGP?

[motion]

My life has suddenly turned upside down. I'm heading to Kiev to be reunited with my Africa Twin in May and was planning my trip to Georgia, Azerbaijan and Russia when I happened to check out this year's MotoGP schedule, only to see that the Mugello round is happening during my trip. Now everything is messed up. Not sure if I should continue on as planned (I'm a little nervous about riding solo in these areas), or if I should head West towards Mugello. Its been on my bucket list forever!

In Russia, I was going to stash the bike in my wife's parent's hometown, about 1,000 miles east of Moscow. Its a heck of a trip, but a lot can go wrong...

I'm not much of a fence-sitter, but this one has me stumped! Feedback? Take the easy way out or soldier on?

[stevej37]

Go for it!
You know that you will be kicking yourself later if you don't.
Take plenty of pics and have fun!

[kach22i]

All I know is what my sister told me when she did some volunteer work in Armenia. The border areas between Azerbaijan (Muslim) and Armenia (Christian) is littered with landmines from the 1990's conflict, so don't wander off the road to stretch your legs or to take a picture.

If you do find yourself in a situation, then follow the hoof prints of the cows, somehow they know where the land minds are and avoid stepping on them.

Nagorno-Karabakh War
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagorno-Karabakh_War


Map of the Month: Landmine Removal in Nagorno-Karabakh
Written by Tyler Bird on Jul 10, 2017
https://carto.com/blog/map-of-the-month-landmine-removal-nagorno-karabakh/

Land mine situation in Nagorno-Karabakh
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_mine_situation_in_Nagorno-Karabakh

The region of Nagorno-Karabakh is considered to be one of the most heavily mined regions of the former Soviet Union. Mines were laid from 1991-1994 by both Azerbaijani and Armenian forces during the Nagorno-Karabakh War.

The United Nations and the United States had estimated the number of mines in Nagorno-Karabakh at 100,000, but after its 1998 assessment mission, the UN Mine Action Service concluded that the mine problem was not nearly as bad as original estimates portrayed....................

Since the cease-fire in 1994 to the end of 2004, 326 mine/UXO casualties were reported, including at least 77 people injured since 2000.

An estimated 69,000 residents in 60 villages in Armenia are afflicted by the problem.[1]

I'm unsure of the date of the below report, it's in their archive section:

AZERBAIJAN
Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor

Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in conflict over the Nagorny-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan from 1988 to 1994. Nagorny-Karabakh is an autonomous region of western Azerbaijan but the majority of the inhabitants are Armenian. As a result of the conflict, western Azerbaijan is plagued with landmines............

According to the UN, mines are still being used.[2] Continuing tensions prevent mine action programs in many areas.

Stay on the roads, you should be fine, and no long walks in the countryside.

EDIT:

My sister has also been to Georgia, and said the people were friendly to her.

I suggest you read this:
Travel Advisory January 10, 2018
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Azerbaijan.html

[flatbutt]

Mugello! Anyone that I've met who has gone there has raved about it! Plus you know the food there will be great!

[javadog]

Mugello. Not even close.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Mugello, no contest!

Watched a Moto GP practive there a few years ago, view of the track is good, crowds will be out for Rossi, the food is fantastic and the weather will be sunny

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by javadog

Mugello. Not even close.

Concur.

Drove there from Barcelona decades ago - fantastic.

[LakeCleElum]

Regarding riding in Russia. A friend tried a "round the world" trip. 1/2 across Russia he gave up and put the bike on a train. He is a retired LEO from Fla and couldn't handle the Russian police shaking him down for bribes daily. They didn't care who he was. That and language issues......

[motion]

I'm a bit surprised that all you blokes are for taking the easy way out

I gotta think hard on this one. The last thing I need is spending 3 hours a day dealing with cops and their stupid little paddles.

[javadog]

It's not about "easy." (You get no brownie points for taking difficult trips in sketchy places. People just look at you like there something wrong with your head.) It's about where I'd rather be and what I'd rather do. I cannot think of any reason I'd rather be in Russia than in Italy. I may not have been to Russia, but I couldn't care less. Italy, on the other hand... great weather, great food, motorcycle racing, great wine, great food, great scenery, you get the idea... did I mention great food?

[MT930]

Your not the sort of guy that backs off a challenge.
That said I would take the Italian option.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by MT930

Your not the sort of guy that backs off a challenge.
That said I would take the Italian option.

"the Italian Option"...if this isn't a great T shirt idea for advertising the Mugello race I don't know what is!

[motion]

Originally Posted by kach22i

All I know is what my sister told me when she did some volunteer work in Armenia. The border areas between Azerbaijan (Muslim) and Armenia (Christian) is littered with landmines from the 1990's conflict, so don't wander off the road to stretch your legs or to take a picture.

If you you find yourself in a situation, then follow the hoof prints of the cows, somehow they know where the land minds are and avoid stepping on them.

Nagorno-Karabakh War
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagorno-Karabakh_War


Map of the Month: Landmine Removal in Nagorno-Karabakh
Written by Tyler Bird on Jul 10, 2017
https://carto.com/blog/map-of-the-month-landmine-removal-nagorno-karabakh/

Land mine situation in Nagorno-Karabakh
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_mine_situation_in_Nagorno-Karabakh



I'm unsure of the date of the below report, it's in their archive section:

AZERBAIJAN
Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor


Stay on the roads, you should be fine, and no long walks in the countryside.

EDIT:

My sister has also been to Georgia, and said the people were friendly to her.

I suggest you read this:
Travel Advisory January 10, 2018
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Azerbaijan.html

Thank you for all of the above. Will study closely.

[motion]

Originally Posted by javadog

It's not about "easy." (You get no brownie points for taking difficult trips in sketchy places. People just look at you like there something wrong with your head.) It's about where I'd rather be and what I'd rather do. I cannot think of any reason I'd rather be in Russia than in Italy. I may not have been to Russia, but I couldn't care less. Italy, on the other hand... great weather, great food, motorcycle racing, great wine, great food, great scenery, you get the idea... did I mention great food?

The Russian countryside is like going back in time 50-75 years. If you haven't been, you don't know what you're missing.

[motion]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Regarding riding in Russia. A friend tried a "round the world" trip. 1/2 across Russia he gave up and put the bike on a train. He is a retired LEO from Fla and couldn't handle the Russian police shaking him down for bribes daily. They didn't care who he was. That and language issues......

This was my concern, as well. My wife says the cops try to get your route so they can radio ahead. That 50 euro bribe you pay is what they make the entire week.

I've read enough trip reports on advrider to assuage myself of the shakedown fears.

[motion]

I'm going to go for it. Mugello can wait until next year

Initial trip planning has shown me that I can't take the shortcut from Kiev to Rostov due to the border war, so I'll need to head further north, then work my way down the border.

Here's what I have so far:



Its a little optimistic for my 12 day window, so I'll have to bust out a few 500 mile days in the boring parts of Russia.

I'll visit the cable cars of Chiatura, Georgia: http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20171009-the-rusty-soviet-flying-cabins-of-georgia

And, the high altitude town of Omalo, Georgia. Its a must-see for the ADV crowd.

Back to Sochi again, just so I can drive the Black sea coast on a bike. I really enjoy Sochi. I'll head up into the mountains if I can find a suitable route and have the time.

Visa application is off in the mail tomorrow.

Svidanya

[Tobra]

It sounds like an epic trip.

My father's parents were from a little village that would be just South of Saratov on that map.

[KFC911]

Now that Hugh has retired, I don't travel the world nearly as much. Can you take pics without being locked up as a spy? If so...please share, and enjoy the ride

[javadog]

Originally Posted by motion

The Russian countryside is like going back in time 50-75 years. If you haven't been, you don't know what you're missing.

You know, when I moved to Australia in 1968, one of my memories from the experience was that they lagged about 20 years behind the US, in terms of the way you lived, what the housing was like, etc. Even though I was a kid, I was bummed out by the feeling.

So, if I were to go back 50 to 70 years in time, I might choose to be a part of the postwar advanced aircraft/rocket engineering world on the west coast. Or, maybe I'd hang out a while in 60's London, perhaps galavant around Europe for a while and follow the F1 season.

Can't say I'd want to be going back to the middle of nowhere, in the communist paradise that was the Soviet Union.

I hope you have fun, stay safe.

[AFC-911]

I think you made the right choice. This way more interesting.