{"id":1273,"date":"2022-06-27T23:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-27T23:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alyoka.com\/?p=1273"},"modified":"2023-10-14T23:32:44","modified_gmt":"2023-10-14T23:32:44","slug":"%f0%9f%87%ac%f0%9f%87%aa-stuck-in-georgia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alyoka.com\/?p=1273","title":{"rendered":"\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\uddea So close and yet so far&#8230; or how I got stuck in Georgia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the two days of riding the Turkish &#8220;highway one&#8221; I had enough of straight plain roads. I wanted mountain passes, sweet curves, snow-topped mountains, and I also somehow avoid the rain and thunderstorms (which had covered a great part of Gerogia). A puzzle that I spent hours on solving with a lot of help from a Georgian moto enthusiast Niko. But the route we came up with was totally worth the effort! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"933\" height=\"698\" src=\"https:\/\/alyoka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/map_georgia_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1287\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2676\" height=\"2008\" data-id=\"1261\" src=\"https:\/\/alyoka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/IMG_8060.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1261\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" data-id=\"1262\" src=\"https:\/\/alyoka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/IMG_8162.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1262\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" data-id=\"1264\" src=\"https:\/\/alyoka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/IMG_8317.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1264\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The type of road that is so good that you don\u2019t want to stop at all, and so beautiful that you want to stop every 500m to take yet another photo! \ud83e\udd70\ud83d\ude0d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<p class=\"responsive-video-wrap clr\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddf7 Part 74. Batumi \ud83c\udfcd Orbeli. 220km\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GJvyBIGQ3BU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Orebli &#8211; Tbilisi<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Starting the day early to have enough time to fully enjoy this collection of awesomeness: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83c\udfde canyon roads, my favorite kind <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83c\udfcd fantastic curves with perfect asphalt and incredible views <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83e\udea8 a bit of offroading to find the best view over the cave town Uplistsikhe <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc04 cows slalom, seriously I had never seen that many cows on the roads before<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" data-id=\"1265\" src=\"https:\/\/alyoka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/IMG_8362.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1265\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3370\" height=\"2527\" data-id=\"1266\" src=\"https:\/\/alyoka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/IMG_8404.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1266\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" data-id=\"1270\" src=\"https:\/\/alyoka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/IMG_8512.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1270\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" data-id=\"1271\" src=\"https:\/\/alyoka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/IMG_8522.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1271\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3503\" height=\"2627\" data-id=\"1272\" src=\"https:\/\/alyoka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/IMG_8553.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1272\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" data-id=\"1274\" src=\"https:\/\/alyoka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/IMG_8562.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1274\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Arrived to Tbilisi way after dark, totally exhausted but absolutely happy! One hell of a day! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<p class=\"responsive-video-wrap clr\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\uddea Part 75. Orbeli \ud83c\udfcd Tbilisi. 367km\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rq7AUwP-SQ4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Tbilisi<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last proper break of the trip aka how I spent one week in Tbilisi:<br>&#8211; body maintenance procedures (sleep, eat, massage &amp; sulphur baths)<br>&#8211; catching up with friends (by some amazing coincidence three of my friends happened to be in Tbilisi at the same time!)<br>&#8211; work (or at least get the most urgent tasks done)<br>&#8211; motorcycle insurance for Russia (not as easy as it sounds, as most insurance companies in Russia don\u2019t like motorcycles and just plainly refuse to give an insurance\u2026)<br>&#8211; some riding to explore the neighbourhoods<br>&#8211; last but not least, waiting for better weather to ride through the mountains on my way to Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3203\" height=\"2402\" data-id=\"1275\" src=\"https:\/\/alyoka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/IMG_8673.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1275\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3964\" height=\"2973\" data-id=\"1276\" src=\"https:\/\/alyoka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/IMG_8774.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1276\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" data-id=\"1277\" src=\"https:\/\/alyoka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/IMG_8806.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1277\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Oh \ud83d\udca9<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rain and landslides destroyed about 80m of the road that connects Georgia to Russia, and the only border crossing got closed until further notice.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The nearby villages and even the border staff got evacuated. No joke. Estimated time needed to repair the road and resume the traffic was announced to be 7-10 days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I needed a new plan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The only other way to get to Russia would be by crossing Azerbaijan, adding just about 10 extra hours to the trip. Not too bad. But there was one problem. Azerbaijan land borders are still closed because of covid19. But I\u2019ve heard one can get a special permission from the embassy to transit the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So first thing in the morning I went to the Azerbaijan embassy, where I met at least 30 other people with the same idea in mind. And all got rejected. No special permits issued. Done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I went back home, prepared breakfast. Trying not to get frustrated because of the cancelled plans. Looks like I\u2019m not going to Russia for at least a week, or probably more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s find something fun to do in the meantime. Let\u2019s explore Armenia! So I started planning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Around 1pm I get a message that there\u2019s some movement at the border, and some cars were let across. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wait. Can this be real? Can the border be open? For how long? What if it will still be open in 3-4 hours?\u2026. Should I try? Of course I should! Worst case I turn around and come back to Tbilisi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It took me 30 min to pack and get ready. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<p class=\"responsive-video-wrap clr\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddfa Part 76. Tbilisi \ud83c\udfcd Vladikavkaz. 221km\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/v06_rMSay_E?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I was so excited, that I didn\u2019t even have any breaks along the way. As I was riding I kept looking for cars with Russian number plates, every time I saw one, I got super happy. It meant that the border was open. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Such a beautiful road, gorgeous mountains, breathtaking views. But no time to stop and enjoy, take a quick photo and go go go. Go cross that border! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" data-id=\"1282\" src=\"https:\/\/alyoka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/IMG_8974.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1282\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" data-id=\"1284\" src=\"https:\/\/alyoka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/IMG_8976.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1284\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" data-id=\"1285\" src=\"https:\/\/alyoka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/IMG_8987.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1285\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" data-id=\"1286\" src=\"https:\/\/alyoka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/IMG_9007.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1286\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"957\" height=\"615\" data-id=\"1288\" src=\"https:\/\/alyoka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/map_georgia_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1288\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the border crossing I met another rider, Denis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Customs: Do you have any forbidden items? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Denis: Is khachapuri forbidden? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Customs: No.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Denis (looking at me): Are you hungry? I do have khachapuri. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Me: I\u2019m starving. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We rode a couple of km away from the border and stopped for a picnic in the middle of a valley surrounded by amazing mountains. The sun was starting to set. The bikes were covered with dirt from the road. The khachapuri was still warm. The conversation was flowing. None of it seemed real. But there it was, the ultimate peace and happiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After the two days of riding the Turkish &#8220;highway one&#8221; I had enough of straight plain roads. I wanted mountain passes, sweet curves, snow-topped mountains, and I also somehow avoid the rain and thunderstorms (which had covered a great part of Gerogia). A puzzle that I spent hours on solving with a lot of help 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