Roadtrip Moscow - Vladivostock Part 3 6,000 km out of 11,997 Olkhon - Lake Baikal - Irkoutskaļa Oblast Olkhon Island, right in the middle
of the gigantic Lake Baikal Standing halfway through my
12,000km-long trip through Siberia More than an island, Olkhon is a symbol
supposed to hold me back So I can rest far from the
dangerous Trans-Siberian Highway The goal was to do nothing
for at least 24 hours I slept-in until 8 am or so. Anyway, it was
my day-off and I was not supposed to do anything Howerver, at 8:05am I couldn't resist the
Ducati Multistrada, which was hitting on me - Well the motorcycle is not very clean...
It could use a few quick fixes First : clean the head and tail lights - The plate... Well, I'm not going
to clean this part... How interesting my dear Lolo... The north point of the island was only 45km far,
that was not such a huge issue after all... So I jumped on the Multistrada.
I had nothing to do but I wanted to do it well. I drove 20km up north, made the big V-Twin roar,
set the suspension in enduro-mode And I hit the road ! At 70km/h I jumped over the bumps,
scared prairie dogs. I felt like the King of the world Well... of the island. The world was bigger
and I had to go back to it very soon I arrived at a barrier, where the guards
offloaded me of 240 roubles
They asked me for a gift from Paris I didn't have any sticker
and when they saw all the stuff I was carrying They couldn't figure out if I came to visit
or settle for 3 months... They gave up. And I went. On those soft sand tracks, I was able to
show off thanks to the Multistrada's efficient traction-control Why not ? It's even better to show off when
you're doing nothing ! I have to admit after 6,000km of straight line
I felt as free as a Selenga Grey Heron I wanted to cry of joy Like the Baikal Seagull. Whose particularity
is to dash into you As I arrived at a crossroad, I had a doubt :
left, or right ? Right it is Oh boy ! It's a deep sand track
and I have road tyres... First fall in the sand. My right foot gets
stuck under the side-case I wanted to film how stupid I was,
but I couldn't... In every situation I ask myself :
"Imagine you're alone, what would you do ?" - I'm completely stuck... completely... And this time I don't have to imagine :
I'm actually alone. The pressure on my foot is starting
to become unbearable Ouch ! I'm not going to show you how I cut
my own foot after 127 hours of suffering... I had no other choice than going back on track It felt like I was climbing the Dune of Pyla
from the north face, with roller skates And I ended up in some vicious mud,
which was still hard to cross on those bloody roller skates... I can't believe it took me 2 hours
to drive the last 25km... But it's doesn't matter. I had nothing to do today. And it was so worth it... At the end of the road. Where there is
nothing but the end. It was splendid, gigantic. Huge steep cliffs, overlooking Lake Baikal The biggest non-frozen water basin in the world. 20% of Earth's water supply. Can you image
the size of this barrel ??! I don't know about you,
but I'm impressed by all this And there are the landscapes
and the people Oklhon's landcape swings between Mongolia, the Alps, Etratat
the Dune of Pyla... and it's only 40km long ! I flew my drone, took pictures and videos.
I explored every corner of Oklhon Island's north point The kind of immensity that leaves you speechless.
Or, on the contrary, that opens up your heart... I know that some of you are
starting to think I might be insane or that I lost a bet perhaps 11,000km in 20 days, I must be crazy I'm not breaking any world record,
it's not what I'm saying ! I spend a huge amount of time
riding the motorcycle and it's a marvelous adventure Many must think that it's as wonderful
in your home deep countryside such as Lozere and Cantal I bet it is. But roadtripping really takes
you out of your comfort-zone Grab your handlebar and come ride
the Trans-Siberian Highway ! You'll know what it's like to be alone,
and you'll spend some time with yourself It's magical... And I managed
to visit two astonishing places It's a well-deserved reward after all the hard-times.
Because I must admit : it's been quite hard from time to time... And for fuck's sake... Every one is wondering what does a guy
on a road trip looks like ? I'm gonna show you, look ! A guy on a road trip looks like this... His hair is a mess and his beard is not
well groomed... Not like hipsters...
NO... I DIDN'T SAY THAT ! He doesn't wear a brand new
check shirt either His hair is as flat as this And sometimes he looks despaired,
and has huge black circles under his eyes Because he doesn't sleep much and spend
a lot of time riding He also has wrinkles and looks exhausted But he smiles like a simpleton Because what he's doing, seeing, and experiencing
makes him happy Russia is... well sometimes it's harsh Like Coluche said, sometimes crows fly upside-down
to avoid looking at the misery down bellow Fuck... it's true... Crows do have to fly upside-down But Russia is a magical place.
People are extraordinarily nice I saw magical places, absolutely amazing. And look at that... Lake Baikal ! But I'm not done yet ! I still have
4,500 km to go ! I'm like "it's done, it's over" But it's really not. There's still some work to do.
Right buddy ?! In fact, I think I dreaded the way back Even if I had nothing to do, I didn't want to do it. I don't why, but the way back went like a charm... I took the path of schoolchildren, but there
was nobody left outside The locals were shut inside their buryat yurts,
next to the heat I felt like a boy who had been hiding in the wood,
only to be the last one going down the ski slopes What ? It's not my faut ! You see, no one should ever work the day after a day off. But I had to go back to work,
like everyone on this island. I'm heading back to the Trans-Siberian Highway After I had such a blast, I ought to be nostalgic Even more if you meet a guy
who's coming to take your turn for happiness He was a South-Korean, on a roadtrip too. Don't ask me his name. Even him told to
give up because it's unpronounceable We had the same reflex: share informations. "Where do you come from?" "Where are you going to?"
"Where should I go ?" "How can I go the north point of the island ?" Well... You'll have to push your motorcycle through
sand tracks. Something close to the gulag experience maybe.
Or like North Korea, if it makes more sense to you. I lied about the quantity of mud and sand ahead. I didn't
want him to miss this wonderfull experience. He looked at me and thought that I managed
to do it because I'm tall, unlike him. I hope he won't change his mind. He loved my fridge ! We took the classic globetrotters' picture And went back on our way... As I went onbard, I took a deep breath
of Lake Baikal's fresh air A lake so pure that the inhabitants drink its water. And I went back on the Trans-Siberian Highway.
My own umbilical cord. To be continued...
