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Riding Through Ukraine: A Journalist Travels Through War Country

“The Access He Was Getting to People and Their Stories with the Motorcycle was a Game Changer”

Neal Bayly's account and media in his forage into Ukraine. Media sourced from Neal Bayly's Facebook page.
Neal Bayly's account and media in his forage into Ukraine. Media sourced from Neal Bayly's Facebook page.

A man by the name of Neale Bayly has just completed a trip that involved a trek into Ukraine.

The motojournalist is a founder of the nonprofit Wellspring International Outreach and shares a mission to ‘bring aid and attention to the abandoned and at-risk children throughout the world.’

Naturally, the Russo-Ukranian War has created a perfect storm of need; hence, we have for you today a touch-down on Bayly’s experience in ‘a beautiful country with incredible people standing resiliently against a brutal regime intent on their destruction.’

Neal Bayly's account and media in his forage into Ukraine. Media sourced from Neal Bayly's Facebook page.
Neal Bayly’s account and media in his forage into Ukraine. Media sourced from Neal Bayly’s Facebook page.

According to Rider Magazine, the 6,600-km (approx. 4,100 miles) motorcycle trip was made possible with the aid of BMW Motorrad USA’s Oleg Satanovsky (who had a nice pair of F 850 GS Adventures ready and waiting in Munich), REV’IT!’s Matthew Miles (for the full treatment in protective gear), and Jeff Weil at Arai (he supplied the top-notch lids), on top of various sponsors and donors. 

Neal Bayly's account and media in his forage into Ukraine. Media sourced from Neal Bayly's Facebook page.
Neal Bayly’s account and media in his forage into Ukraine. Media sourced from Neal Bayly’s Facebook page.

With the team outfitted in bullet-proof vests and holding approval documents from the Ukranian military, the trip began. 

“In total, we spent close to three weeks in Ukraine, riding from Lviv to Kyiv, Bucha, Irpin, and Hostomel, scenes of the worst atrocities early in the war…then we rode to the seaport of Odessa,” says Bayly. 

Neal Bayly's account and media in his forage into Ukraine. Media sourced from Neal Bayly's Facebook page.
Neal Bayly’s account and media in his forage into Ukraine. Media sourced from Neal Bayly’s Facebook page.

The stories chased involved everything from visiting current refugee sanctuaries and Soviet-era coal mines, to attending recovering soldiers, sheltering from air strikes and dropping off a $10,000 cheque at a children’s hospital in Lviv. 

Neal Bayly's account and media in his forage into Ukraine. Media sourced from Rider Magazine.
Neal Bayly’s account and media in his forage into Ukraine. Media sourced from Rider magazine.

The sights seen weren’t always family friendly, either; Bayly mentions the carnage found in Vinnytsia, where the World Central Kitchen was doing their part for the good citizens:

“The World Central Kitchen was on-site handing out water and meals to people rendered homeless by the strikes. Cleanup crews were hard at work, and all the bodies had been removed – just not quite all the parts, which made me glad we had skipped lunch.”

Neal Bayly's account and media in his forage into Ukraine. Media sourced from Neal Bayly's Facebook page.
Neal Bayly’s account and media in his forage into Ukraine. Media sourced from Neal Bayly’s Facebook page.

If you’ve never heard of the Wellspring International Outreach and would like to become a part of their sponsorship/donations effort, Bayly leaves a link to the organization’s website

Our hearts go out to the resilient souls involved in this war, and a big hug to those who are doing what they can. 

Neal Bayly's account and media in his forage into Ukraine. Media sourced from Neal Bayly's Facebook page.
Neal Bayly’s account and media in his forage into Ukraine. Media sourced from Neal Bayly’s Facebook page.

Be sure to stay tuned, drop a comment below letting us know what you think, and as ever – stay safe on the twisties. 

*All media sourced from Neale Bayly’s Facebook page*