The car may or may not fade from memory as he gets older - but the adventure will remain forever. Epic - and well done. I hope that you will also put to bed all those "fears" and "unfriendly" and "Inhospitable" thoughts 99% of the world associate with the Ruskies. I am comfortable here. It sure isnt paradise (maybe would be nicer if I was somewhere near Sochi - nice place called Rostov na dow would be fine) but I am entering my 5th winter here and after 32 summers of Greece - coming here was about as massive-a-change as the human body and mind could cope with. But I have never had a run-in with anyone - I have only been given the finger once (by an irate cop who made some driving errors I didnt approve of) and as a none drinker (by the way we now have zero tollerence in Russia for drivers so be aware if you ever do come) I am as I said - comfortable

kkirkou ;

Amen to that Brother !

Mark Walton ; Now that I've got some 3600 miles on the FX35 , albeit on not such adventurous Terrain ( the mountains and Front Range of Colorado ) I'd love to compare notes on our respective FX impressions from the Yank and the Brit side of things . Hit me on the inbox when you return if you've got the time .

Heck , might even make for good conversation on the site .

(FYI; My FX35  impressions are almost all positive by the way ) 

Mark - you are truly in the last frontier of the so called modern world. It is no doubt incongrous to be driving a spanking new Infiniti into what could be likened to the wild west of America 200 years ago - or less. It is a very dangerous are you are in. Because it is a cross roads with all manner of mixed nationalities in there trying to scratch a life from a harsh environment and there is a lawlessness about it. Not the place to chose as part of your vacational holiday! Its all in an education kiddo. I missed university 40 odd years ago for a variety of reasons - but the travel done - like yours now - is not something you get from a book. It is much stronger and will remain with you - as my journeys have - long after you have left. Glad you are saving the tyre wear, rattles, consumption and mechanical issues till the end.