Start: Kirzhach, Russia
End: Vladimir, Russia
Distance: 118km
Elevation Gain: 2539ft
Elevation Loss: 2489ft
Time: 7h26m
Reading Material:Leningrad: The Epic Siege of World War II, 1941-1944 – Anna Reid
Audio Material: 99% Invisible; Planet Money (Trading Places episode feat. guest star Roman Mars); EconTalk (Munger on emergent codes in sports); WTF podcast (Nick Cave interview); Tiny Cities – Sun Kil Moon
Description
Second nice long day in a row finds me in Vladimir ready to begin exploring the Golden Ring of ancient Rus capitals.
Really happy with my road choice. After my forays in Ukraine, I have been cautious about anything smaller than a secondary road. However, the few segments today were in great shape so maybe I can give some more leeway to Russia roads.
Cooler temps continue greatly contributing to my comfort. Stopped for an actual sit-down lunch today in Kolchugino (Greek salad, chicken noodle soup and some elbow macaroni). Restocked on what I hope is Russian Ibuprofen (still some lingering knee pain) and tried one of these Energy+Juice drinks (better than the Mike Tyson version).
Impossible to avoid the main motorway in the final 10km approach to Vladimir. Some dicey moments dealing with heavy traffic and then leapfrogging city buses once inside city proper. Approaching Vladimir’s Golden Gate, had a chance to imagine what it would have been like to be an invading Mongol (or, given my itinerary, more likely an ancient German). Luckily Alexander Nevsky did not appear to prevent my entrance.
Vladimir was the historical center of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality during the height of the Kievan Rus Empire. It never really recovered status after the Mongol-Tartar invasion of 1238 though the ruler of Rus continued to take the Grand Prince of Vladimir honorific for quite a while. More on Vladimir history tomorrow when I take a day to explore the city.
