4/13/2002: crossing the Bering Strait

Undertoad · 04-13-2002, 01:33 PM

The guys: British explorers Steve Brooks, Graham Stratford. The vehicle: their customized snow cat, named the "Snowbird 6". Their location: across part of the Bering Strait off the coast of Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska.

This was their third attempt to drive from the United States across the strait to Russia.

They made it halfway, to an island that sits exactly halfway between the countries. That's an amazing feat by itself; it's about 26 miles across that kind of ice and water.

But then they were stopped. It wasn't a mechanical problem, it wasn't lack of fuel... it was the treacherous bureaucracy of the Russian immigration services. Despite planning the trip for six months, and getting the Ruskie OK several times, their vehicle still confused the officials, and they wouldn't let the pair go through.

It's a way cool vehicle, and these guys are way cool for building it and trying. The full story is in the Moscow Times:

http://www.moscowtimes.ru/stories/2002/04/10/014.html

russotto · 04-15-2002, 09:19 PM

I guess they need to learn to USE the bureaucracy. Just drive in somewhere the immigration officials aren't. Announce their presence, get the press there. Then drive right back out, again somewhere the immigration officials aren't.

By the time the bureacracy figures out what was going on, they'll belong gone.

richlevy · 04-21-2002, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by russotto

By the time the bureacracy figures out what was going on, they'll belong gone.

"belong gone". I'm assuming that was a typo but it's an interesting phrase, even a pun.

Griff · 04-21-2002, 07:03 PM

Sounds like a Chinese cult.

04-13-2002, 01:33 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	4/13/2002: crossing the Bering Strait The guys: British explorers Steve Brooks, Graham Stratford. The vehicle: their customized snow cat, named the "Snowbird 6". Their location: across part of the Bering Strait off the coast of Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska. This was their third attempt to drive from the United States across the strait to Russia. They made it halfway, to an island that sits exactly halfway between the countries. That's an amazing feat by itself; it's about 26 miles across that kind of ice and water. But then they were stopped. It wasn't a mechanical problem, it wasn't lack of fuel... it was the treacherous bureaucracy of the Russian immigration services. Despite planning the trip for six months, and getting the Ruskie OK several times, their vehicle still confused the officials, and they wouldn't let the pair go through. It's a way cool vehicle, and these guys are way cool for building it and trying. The full story is in the Moscow Times: http://www.moscowtimes.ru/stories/2002/04/10/014.html

04-21-2002, 07:03 PM	#4
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Belong Gone Sounds like a Chinese cult.

04-15-2002, 09:19 PM	#2
russotto Professor Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,788	I guess they need to learn to USE the bureaucracy. Just drive in somewhere the immigration officials aren't. Announce their presence, get the press there. Then drive right back out, again somewhere the immigration officials aren't. By the time the bureacracy figures out what was going on, they'll belong gone.

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