The day promised to be a big occasion, we were supposed to get our truck!. Of course there was one last visit to the offices of FESCO the shipping company to get our Temporary Import Permit and then down to the port entrance to wait while Yuri (Melnikov) drove the truck out to us. Neither Nina or I were allowed into the port only suitably authorized Russian citizens may enter.

After a short wait (during which we had a conversation with the gate guard, seems he was previously a sailor and had visited Australia a number of times) the truck appeared. Nina had a few tears and was busily taking photographs. Nina and I piled into the truck, a few adjustments to the seating, and we were on our way out of the port area. After a few minutes Svetlana caught up to us in her little car and took the lead to show us the way back to the hotel.

About half a mile from our hotel we came upon a scene of traffic chaos as a bus had broken down in the middle of a busy intersection and a couple of police officers were directing traffic while the driver had his head inside the engine bay. As we approached one of the officers held up his hand to stop me. I am thinking "it did not take long for the yellow mog to attract attention" (we have been warned that Police may be a problem in Russia) - but I was wrong; he quickly indicated with hand gestures that he wanted me to tow the bus out of the intersection. In short order the bus was connected and we were pulling it up a short hill to a flat section where the bus would be less of an obstruction. What an amazing introduction to driving in Russia.

At the hotel we maneuvered into our prearranged parking space (200 rubbles per day) said good by to Svetlana and Yuri (from Links, Ltd - our very helpful customs agent. I will say more about their help in an upcoming post on shipping ) and set about the task of reorganizing the vehicle contents from shipping mode to driving mode - that took most of the day with a couple of grocery shopping trips thrown in.

Late in the day Vladimir came by to give us some more contact information and instructions for people along our route. We had a few drinks and said our goodbyes and thankyou's.