Matt, Henning and
Adward Stand before the Stalin's Mask - a tribute to the prisoners
of the gulags |
Shortly
before we departed Magadan, at the Automobile Registry Agency we
encountered a most interesting character. Approaching us in the
parking lot with stumbling but passable English was Adward Spitsin.
Adward is 43
year old extreme sports and adventure junkie who was born in Magadan
and has returned after his numerous travels. After leaving
school he joined the russian navy as a submarine mechanic and spent a
good number of years touring the world from the depths of below, so
probably not seeing a whole lot of it.
After leaving
the navy, Ad worked as a search and rescue swimmer in various spots in
the Russian far east as part of a helicopter rescue team. Now
far from being anchored he runs a Komatsu dealership that supplies the
Japanese construction equipment to the numerous mines that inhabit the
region.
After showing us
photos of his previous motorcycle trips around the province he then
took us in search of some jerry cans we were in need of and then
guided the group out to the coast where he paraglides with about 20
other fellow magadanians. He also skydives, powerchutes, kayaks
and numerous other sports. Those that know me, can imagine my
thrill at finding a like minded character.
Soaring in Far
East Russia
|
To see these
types of people over here is refreshing, from the perspective that
regardless of the difficulties that they may have faced in the past,
they are fulfilling their adrenaline needs without interference from
the government. Not only is it interesting that the DRD4
gene is evident everywhere in the world one may be, but it is alive
and well here in Russia.
One week after
we departed Magadan, Adward was due to leave on a similar trip out to
Germany on a much smaller bike.
Best of luck to
you Ad and it was a pleasure for all of us.
|