Within five minutes of getting into the drivers seat in Russia we got pulled by some traffic cops. Apparently I was speeding through a town. One of those towns where there are no buildings or people, just trees. Anyway, it cost me and Chris 15 Euros each, and didn't help lift our mood after the border. It's pretty intimidating being bollocked by a guy who you don't understand and who doesn't understand you. What he was doing was entirely illegal, but he had an AK so i wasn't really going to argue.
A few hundred kilometres later we got pulled into a checkpint. This time we got on really well with the cops and they all came out to look at the cars and talk about the rally. It was reassuring to know that some of them are nice people. Still not worth getting on theirt wrong side. All documents have to be carried at all time, failure to do so can result in a 150 dollar fine. I only found this out today in Moscow when we had already left the car. Luckily I've got all the bits I need but some of the guys haven't and it's a long walk back to the car. That's if the car is still there when we get back. There's also a fairly good chance our Russian chums will help us out by reducing the racing weight of the car by taking all the luggage inside but leaving the car. If that happens, it might be a bit of a mixed blessing.