You get the chance than try and watch "Long Way Round" It's a video documentary of two Brits crossing Russia other parts of Europe along with Alaska, Canada and the USA. They do it on BMW motorcycles and little to no support. Russia is damed tough and the roads were like this. Trucks like the one pictured really saved their trip. The one guy Ewan McGregor (SP) is a pretty famous actor. I thought it would be a "publicity" thing but these guys had a real hard time and did real well!