Anna Rodnishcheva has lined greater than 11,000 kilometers from the Sea of Japan to the Black Sea; she’s slept in an open subject and at bus stops, met very totally different individuals and conquered numerous obstacles. Now, her life won’t ever be the identical.
“An experience like this alters a person a lot. I remember thinking that only weirdos dared to go on such crazy adventures and I wouldn’t do it. The very first trip really expanded the boundaries of my mind. I realized that if I can cross the entire Russia on a bike, then many other things that are not connected to traveling at all are also possible,” the newly-made traveler now believes.
One day, she did it
At 25 years of age, Anna Rodnishcheva admits she’s by no means been an athlete and had solely ever ridden her bike in a neighboring park. But, in the future, she bought so bored of her bland metropolis life (she works as a photographer in Moscow) that she determined upon a real act of insanity. With her saved funds, she launched into a giant bike journey. In 2022, Anna examined herself on the Moscow-Sochi stretch (2,947 kilometers; 1,831 mi.) and, in 2023, she launched into her predominant journey from Vladivostok to Sochi – that is 11,601 kilometers (7,208 mi.)!
Anya’s Adventures
“Vladivostok was chosen as a starting point, which I reached by train. Not to save money or for comfort, but because that’s an adventure in itself. You have enough time to ponder your entire life over almost seven days spent on a train – this is generally a very therapeutic experience. When I left Moscow, I was sick of my job, but, by the end of the trip, I was ready to take up my camera again,” Anna says.
Anya’s Adventures
When she arrived within the metropolis, she reached the Tokarevsky Lighthouse and switched on her app that counts the gap traveled.
Tigers and sleeping in a subject
Departing from Vladivostok, Anna did not but know the place she was going. She had 4 targets and the vacation spot wasn’t as vital. “First goal – to cross the entire Russia from sea to sea. Second – to test myself long distance. Third – to spend time alone with myself and think over many things. And fourth, of course, to see large cities!”
Anya’s Adventures
When embarking on such a journey, you must be prepared for something. During her journey, Anna principally slept in a tent in a subject; as soon as, she needed to sleep at a bus cease. She took alongside an entire animal repellent package: “They scare people in the Far East with stories about bears and tigers, so I had pepper spray, a hunter signal and flares – thankfully, I didn’t need any of it! What I didn’t take was something against dogs, they often attack cyclists. I wasn’t bitten, but it’s scary when a giant dog runs at you. Of course, I had a tent with me, a tourist foam mat, spare parts for my bicycle and so on.”
Anya’s Adventures 
Anya’s Adventures
Meetings on the best way
Anna regrets that she had by no means actually skilled earlier than: “I covered about 100 kilometers daily and, for a bike trip across Russia, that’s quite small – at times, you won’t reach anything within these 100 kilometers, that’s just a road from one village to another.’ Not everything went smoothly on the road, but Anna learned to tackle every situation without panicking. “There have been emergency conditions with my bike – a few of them I used to be in a position to resolve myself, for some I needed to go to a restore store. Once, my bike broke down between cities – then I caught a experience and so they drove me to a restore store. People helped me like that a number of instances,” she says.
Anya’s Adventures 
Anya’s Adventures 
Anya’s Adventures
And, over the course of her epic journey across Russia, Anna met various different people: “In complete, I met three kinds of individuals on my journey. The first kind – easy passers-by (for instance car relocators), who noticed me in a single area after which met me once more in one other. They would say: ‘We’re relocating our third automotive already and you are still on the highway!?’ They normally gave me some meals, snacks or some water. The second kind – vacationers like me. Sometimes cyclists, generally hitchhikers. Among them was the one foreigner on my manner – an Iranian. He wished to succeed in Magadan from Moscow, however, sadly, his visa ran out and he did not have fairly sufficient days to complete his journey. The third kind was the locals. Sometimes, they supplied me to spend an evening at their place, confirmed me their metropolis – I bear in mind it with heat. But, you continue to have to speak to everybody rigorously. Sometimes, I met not totally sane individuals. I personally advise you to not discuss to roadside sellers and to speak to truckers with warning.”
Anna with the Iranian she met on the highway.
Anya’s Adventures 
Anna at one of the bike posts.
Anya’s Adventures
Anna, just like she wanted, rode through many large cities: Stavropol, Volgograd, Saratov, Chelyabinsk, Ulan-Ude, Chita. In some, she stopped at bike posts of the local motorcycle clubs. She also spent two days in Irkutsk to celebrate her birthday – she even has a photo with a cake at Lake Baikal!
Anya’s Adventures 
Anya’s Adventures 
Anya’s Adventures
Advice to those who want to do the same
On October 10, Anna reached the final point of her journey – Sochi – and, soon, she’ll be back at home in Moscow. She’s happy about it and now she thinks enthusiastically about sedentary life: “This would possibly sound unusual, however I bought a bit drained over the course of the journey. Always on the highway, at all times speaking to new individuals – that is actually tiresome over the course of 5 months. Now I’ll return residence, see my mother and father and return to work. For now, I do not plan any new travels.”
Anya’s Adventures 
A bicycle workshop from Volgograd gifted Anna a helmet.
Anya’s Adventures
And here’s what Anna advises those who want to repeat her adventure: “First of all – every part is feasible! An everyday wholesome untrained individual can cowl this distance, if they need. I hope my story shall be seen, particularly by women and so they’ll notice they will journey by themselves. Second, an expertise like this alters an individual quite a bit. I bear in mind pondering that solely weirdos dare to go on such loopy adventures and I would not do it. The very first journey actually expanded the boundaries of my thoughts. I spotted that if I can cross all the Russia on a motorbike, then many different issues that aren’t related to touring in any respect are additionally potential. But, should you undergo from despair, do not rely on this journey to revive you to life! Afterwards, you’ll nonetheless return to town and return to your each day routine. Third, financially, anybody can go on such journeys. You can do it with a funds of 15-20 thousand rubles (approx. $150-$200) monthly; with extra consolation, after all, will probably be costlier – however that’s as much as you.”
Anya’s Adventures
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