Ukraine Refugee Assistance

Guys, anyway i'm ready to continue helping people here in Ukraine. This is the way to quickly help in any emergency situations or new families with something they need. And i'm really glad to have this opportunity - it's VERY important for people here.

On the other hand, leaving the shelter unsupported is not an option either - i guess.

You all put a lot of effort into supporting and more - thank you once again 

and finally i understand - everyone is tired of this war - no one thought it would last this long (honestly no one expected there to be a war at all )

So my thoughts - is it possible to redistribute this help? for example - once every 3-4 months to sent help here in Dnipro, other months to Kisgorbo shelter.

Am i making myself clear? What do you think? 

VikkiDp said:

Guys, anyway i'm ready to continue helping people here in Ukraine. This is the way to quickly help in any emergency situations or new families with something they need. And i'm really glad to have this opportunity - it's VERY important for people here.

On the other hand, leaving the shelter unsupported is not an option either - i guess.

You all put a lot of effort into supporting and more - thank you once again 

and finally i understand - everyone is tired of this war - no one thought it would last this long (honestly no one expected there to be a war at all )

So my thoughts - is it possible to redistribute this help? for example - once every 3-4 months to sent help here in Dnipro, other months to Kisgorbo shelter.

Am i making myself clear? What do you think? 

YES. You learned English faster than any of us did, and you are always clear.

Nobody expected this stupid war to go on for this long. Just because it's not our own city here in North America being bombed doesn't mean we get to pretend it's old news. People are dying every day.

My family prays daily, and you (and Bill) are always in them, as well as an end to this nonsensical violence.

With you guys, given the pending August run I just sent $ instead.  I am still available to carry stuff over if important stuff pops up.

Ok, thanks guys.  And you're right, it's not on our shoulders to completely fund the shelter.  There is funding that comes in from the Government, but of course that's never enough.  Mayor Kozma wouldn't be thrilled to lose our supplement, but I'm sure he'd understand (and the doors wouldn't close).  It is tough keeping this pace long term (but we're doing it!).  We don't owe the shelter anything, the monthly stipend was totally voluntary on our part and it was something we decided to do to help after we paid for the heating system.

In all, I think I like Vikki's idea.  Every three or four months, I'll write a notification here and the donations will go to Vikki to help in Dnipro (or wherever she sees a need).  The remaining months we can support the shelter like we've been doing.  Everyone gets something, and the money all goes to where it's needed.

When I do this month's transfer to Kisgorbo, I'll write Mayor Kozma and explain what we're doing and how it will help Ukraine and refugees in the absent months.  Our donations for the month of July will go to Vikki to support our children and mothers in Dnipro.

It is morning in Ukraine as I write this.  The sun made its appearance over Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia about an hour ago and is creeping toward the west, toward Kherson and Kyiv and inevitably onward.  In a moment, it will find Bill, who will probably be thrashing in his garage or casually working some humanitarian miracle and downing his second cup of coffee before the Hungarlings even get out of bed.  And it's the fourth of July.  It is our Independence Day.

I'm not an especially celebratory person.  I avoid crowds and loud noises and heat, and the fourth of July invariably means all of those things.  This year I will take the kid to the park to see the fireworks and maybe treat myself to a watery, undersized, overpriced beer from a plastic cup, just like most years.  Mostly I will be thinking about what those bursts of color and explosions of sound represent, what that war to establish our independence meant to us as a nation, and what the current war to defend Ukraine's independence means to them.

The word "freedom" is almost a cliche here in the US.  We use the word so casually that we cheapen it.  We use it as a punch line in jokes about our own arrogance and as justification for our own bad behavior, individually and collectively.  We use it to sell everything from underwear to cellphone service to life insurance.  Tomorrow I will be thinking a lot about just how damned lucky we are to live without fear of invasion from an old has-been neighbor who just can't stand to see others shine.  We are free from that fear.  That, to me, is real freedom.   Not the only form, but an important one.

Ukraine celebrates Independence Day on the 24th of August.  It seems unlikely that this year it will be entirely peaceful.  Either way, I will again be thinking about what independence means to Ukraine.

Happy Independence Day to everyone here who has pulled together to do what we can for Ukraine.  We ain't done yet, boys.

In reply to DarkMonohue :

Throughout all of history, Freedom has always demanded the same price. No one can be left to die alone.

We help Ukraine survive what for us came in 1812. We remember that our fight did not end with the first treaty, either. Mostly, we fight for our brothers and sisters who need us, so that freedom can remain something that can be had. 

And we look forward to when Russia looks to Ukraine for strength, as our allies have looked to us.

DarkMonohue said:

It is morning in Ukraine as I write this.  The sun made its appearance over Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia about an hour ago and is creeping toward the west, toward Kherson and Kyiv and inevitably onward.  In a moment, it will find Bill, who will probably be thrashing in his garage or casually working some humanitarian miracle and downing his second cup of coffee before the Hungarlings even get out of bed.  And it's the fourth of July.  It is our Independence Day...

 Right on the money.  4:30am, I pulled the master cylinder to bench bleed the brakes.  2nd cup of coffee getting cold on top of the newly installed battery....

I had good pedal feel, and the back brakes were adjusted a click or two tighter than I normally have them, but I couldn't get the fronts to lock under hard braking (with full pedal travel).  Redoing the MC bench bleed, it looks like there was a pocket of air trapped at the very end of piston travel.  I ran a full bleed afterwards, and everything feels ok, but the test will be tomorrow when I drive to Budapest.

Tomorrow Ira gets her box of summer art supplies for her art therapy that was sent over by Girthquake.   We'll deliver it in person and see the new school building they have.  It's exciting to see how her operation has grown. 

We're 56 pages into this thread now, and I still have no idea where we're going.  All I know is that some time down the road this is all going to be a memory and someone will casually bring up the topic and ask "what did you do during the war?". 

Well... As much as we could, with what we had, as long as we could do it. 

I know it's exhausting, and it may not seem like much at times, but people breathe easier when we do it (and that's something).

A quick 4th of July Update for everyone:
 

Ok, so our Kisgorbo funds (368,464 forint) have officially been transferred and we are now officially collecting for Vikki!  (Hi Viki!).  This will help her to quickly respond to events around her in a way I think we wouldn't be able to otherwise.  I think everyone on the thread is VERY aware of the awesome stuff she's been doing, and I hope we can send her some cash so she can keep doing it. Unlike Kisgorbo, where we set a 500,000forint limit, there won't be a cap for this one.  If it's in my paypal account at the end of the month, then it gets sent to VikkiDp's account (unless you specify otherwise in your donation).

Our GoFundMe has gotten kind of stagnant recently.  We had a small bump ($500!!!) over the weekend, but that was my mother-in-law (Hi Gail!!!!).  We DID however, receive 200,000huf (nearly $600usd) from a coworker, so I've added that in to the "school supplies" block.  My grandmother reports that she is also mailing me a check from her neighbor (she's a bit tech challenged) so when that gets here I can add that to our total too.

Also in school supplies, I've received both boxes from Girthquake but darn it if I don't see his pictures in my folder and that means I didn't post them here! (worse, I don't see them on my phone either)   I'll fix that shortly (sorry Girthquake!).  Either way, I'm scheduled to send the first box to Ira tomorrow and will deliver it in person!  This will help her keep her art therapy operation open and running for the summer (it's a LOT of stuff).

Baby Clothes, etc, is still being handled by Miroslav.  I haven't received an update from him in a bit, but I can see he's still following my FB page and reacting to photos, so he's still here (we just don't chat much on whatsapp).  I did send him a message so I'll have that update soon, I'm sure.

My brother hasn't reported any new deliveries for the hospitallers, but fingers crossed the yeti's come through.  Still lots of time.

And Stuffies!  Lots of those received from Girthquake in his boxes (excellent packaging, by the way).  I'll share those when I post the photos as well.

So looking forward:  I've reached out to Kyiv independent on their discord (I'm a patreon supporter) asking for their members help to get visibility on this, but it's not the most active discussion so I'm not sure what to expect.  I was thinking about reaching out to them to see if they'd be interested in the idea as a story, but I'll hold off on that for a week or so.

I'm going to try to keep the social media pages a bit more active in an effort to capture the attention of anyone who straggles in.  If you follow all of them, I know it probably gets repetitive seeing me posting roughly the same thing on each site but I hope you understand.

There is a group called "Support Ukraine" on FB that might be a good outlet, but I can't self promote (their rules).  If one of you could make a post over there saying something to the effect of "Hey, he's gearing up to make another run to Dnipro..." then you might be able to share my FB page or GFM link there:

Support Ukraine Page:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/633466991272121

Dnipro Express page:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/510575651154518

GFM link:  https://gofund.me/554d0682

I've tried other Ukraine support pages on FB, but it's hit and miss at best.

All that being said, I'm up for any suggestions anyone might have as far as outlets for this  (and I put all our photos on a google document for BeerBaron and might be able to share the link with you if you wanted to use those for anything...).  In about a week I have a couple friends who've left the area.  I'll share the latest and greatest with them as I think they have groups they share to as well.

man.  And just like that, we're getting into the busy part of the trip.  Here goes!

In reply to DarkMonohue :

Ohhh, Aaron, excellently written  it was touch my heart 

It's important that people don't forget what the price of their freedom is now - is the price of being able to walk with the kids in the park, eat ice cream or drink beer, look at fireworks or the starry sky - all those little things that make up each of our lives 

And sometimes we think it will go on forever - we thought so, too...

Freedom in all its manifestations is one of the most important values of humanity!

So be free and feel free - Happy independence Day - Cheers guys!!!

In reply to Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) :

Well... As much as we could, with what we had, as long as we could do it. 

I know it's exhausting, and it may not seem like much at times, but people breathe easier when we do it (and that's something).

absolutely truth!!!

Tomorrow Ira gets her box of summer art supplies for her art therapy that was sent over by Girthquake.   We'll deliver it in person and see the new school building they have.  It's exciting to see how her operation has grown. 

awww, that's awesome!!! Say "hello" to Ira and Budapest - love this city so much  and waiting for your report and pictures 

Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) said:

Also in school supplies, I've received both boxes from Girthquake but darn it if I don't see his pictures in my folder and that means I didn't post them here! (worse, I don't see them on my phone either)   I'll fix that shortly (sorry Girthquake!).  Either way, I'm scheduled to send the first box to Ira tomorrow and will deliver it in person!  This will help her keep her art therapy operation open and running for the summer (it's a LOT of stuff).

That's okay lol, I can wait. I can't wait to see their reaction from all of it, I'm preparing to get more stuffies for my next round. 

Also Zelenskyy is celebrating the 4th of July as well with us.

GIRTHQUAKE said:

Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) said:

Also in school supplies, I've received both boxes from Girthquake but darn it if I don't see his pictures in my folder and that means I didn't post them here! (worse, I don't see them on my phone either)   I'll fix that shortly (sorry Girthquake!).  Either way, I'm scheduled to send the first box to Ira tomorrow and will deliver it in person!  This will help her keep her art therapy operation open and running for the summer (it's a LOT of stuff).

That's okay lol, I can wait. I can't wait to see their reaction from all of it, I'm preparing to get more stuffies for my next round. 

Also Zelenskyy is celebrating the 4th of July as well with us.

Wait no longer, sir!

Ok, first things first.  If anyone was thinking of challenging Girthquake to a Tetris challenge, give up all hope now.  I thought I was getting good at this, but these boxes are 100% next level.  Here's what was inside:

The big (I should say "Taller") box is slated for delivery into Ukraine, but it's the smaller one we'll be focused on today.  It's slated for delivery at exactly 10:30 to our Ukrainian school in Budapest.   Here's how that went...

First things first though, I've gotta give the truck a shakedown.  The rear diff is wet and the cap on the back is only being held in place by a couple of the bolts as I recently purchased and hauled a jungle gym play set (no Jungle Pam, though) from town to our new place.  We had measured in advance but were off by JUST enough that the bigger pieces wouldnt fit.  But I digress.  First that diff:

So I had help...

My grandmother made me that wrench index about 10 years ago and it's been in use ever since.  They don't make 'em like they used to and all that.

Yup, the diff was a bit low.

I've had diff leaks in the past (actually, only for the first few months I've owned it) and the culprit was the vent on the top.  I figured with all the Africa shenanigans, it probably got choked up with grit again.  I think I was right as it certainly was difficult to vent when I tried to blow through it.  I used a scribe and some brake clean to clean it all out.

After the vent was reinstalled, I topped it up with 2/3 of Redline diff sauce.  I think that might indicate that my diff was about half full.  Definitely not good, but I haven't checked it since before Africa so I'm putting that in the "within negligible limits" bin.  Maybe down the road I'll install a limited slip or something and then I'll worry about  sealing things up.

So all that running around put me a bit behind with the Hungarlings.  I was topping up my tires and checking lug torque when I was supposed to be waking them up.  See, their Kung-Fu instructor is running a "camp" for the kids this week.  They get to play all day, but they have to be there by 8am.  Plus I still need to play "musical cars" and get the Toyota out of the driveway, and the Mazda in.  Kind of a bummer because I had wanted to take the Hungarlings picture with the boxes for a size reference (I think the tall box might be the same height as my youngest)

After doing the morning scramble, we were all headed out to the truck for drop offs.  The boys to Kung-Fu and the box to Budapest.  Thinking quickly I tossed my phone to the eldest and had him snap this shot:

Let me tell ya, that box is HEAVY!!!

So the drive in was mostly uneventful.  Due to some construction, my GPS took me a different route but nothing special happened until Budapest...

and then...

and then and then and then...

(see, you know this is coming...  No run has gone easy, I don't know why I woke up thinking "it's just 2-and-a-half hours to the city...)

and then I was sitting in traffic, downtown Budapest, in this agricultural abomination of a city vehicle, plastered with big red crosses and I tap the clutch pedal twice with my toe (it's just a bored habit I do while sitting in traffic.  it kind of reminds me where pedal play stops and hydraulics begins) and the darn thing just goes completely dead.  I can actually feel it with the tip of my toe as the clutch pedal goes completely limp and  just drops to the floor with no effort.

well crap.

Listen.  I'm no stranger to breaking things in remote places.  I grew up on 1980's Honda ATC 3-wheelers and 1970's 2-stroke bikes.  Both were over a decade old when I got them and we rode trails every day out in eastern Washington.  I became EXTREMELY good at adapting myself to the broken scenario (and occasional broken bone... but never mine.  always someone else's) and doing whatever was needed to get bike and rider back to the garage.  I know I can rev match this thing down a highway to get through the gears.  I live remote enough I can probably avoid 90% of the stoplights and other things that make me shift.  I can drive this without a clutch...

But not in Budapest...

There is no way I can navigate the stop and go traffic of this country's capitol city using the key as a start stop device.  The starter motor will die if the battery doesn't, and I'll run into someone if someone doesn't hit me first.

I pump the pedal a few times hoping it will regain pressure.  It doesn't.

Thinking quickly I hit the flashers and kill the engine.  I let traffic pass me and put it in first.  I hit the key and the truck chugs to life as it lurches forward.  Just like that, I'm on the move.  I signal right, cross a lane, and drive over a curb and up on to the sidewalk.

I pop the hood but I cant see anything wrong.  No fluid loss in the reservoir, and the firewall by the master cylinder is dry.  I push the pedal with my hand and it's stiff again!

I try it with my foot and it's working!

shoot, here goes!

I wait for a hole in traffic and bounce myself back off the sidewalk and onto the street.  All is good, but you know I'm over thinking every press of the pedal "don't touch it if you don't have to.  was it lighter this time?  did you feel that?  Was that normal?  oh my god, is it going to work at this light?" and so on
 

The clutch keeps working and I cross the Danube and eventually end up at the school.  At first I'm worried because the building is nowhere near as new and nice as the old one was, but I head on in.  Ira's already met me outside and she's telling me all about the place.  They have 50 kids right now, but hope for more in the upcoming school year.  This building was donated by Budapest's third district and they've been working for a year to renovate it.  Right now the kids are eating lunch so she shows me around.

The place is HUGE!!!!

THey have one big common area where all the kids are now.  A room set up as a gym, and dozens of smaller rooms they're using as classrooms.  it is GREAT and I'm realizing now how much better this place is than their last one.  Ira is really excited about it.

She shows me some art the kids have been doing.  They did an art exhibition a while back called "where I am from" and they have a super nice collage highlighting Kyiv as the "Capitol of Freedom".  I like it.

There's going to be another exhibition in September and we're invited.  Ira says she'll send me the info when she has it and I can't wait to take the Hungarlings.

I bring in the box, and Ira is amazed.  She clears off a table an looks through the top layer or two.  It's just too much and she's over the moon with it all.  She calls the kids around and explains who I am, where this stuff came from, what we're doing, and why we're here.

One kid asks in Ukrainian "Do you visit Kharkiv?"

"No, I'm sorry I do not" I answer in English.

It turns out a lot of the children here are from Kharkiv.  That hits me deep.

No time to reflect on that though.  Ira and the other teachers are gathering the children around for photos:

CHEESE!!!!!

SLAVA UKRAINI!!!!!!

(Chanting) Duzhe dyakuyu!!!!

Note the Hodaka shirt in the previous picture as proof of 1970's broken motorcycle-ness.  My first bike was a 1971 Hodaka 125 frame with a Hodaka Ace 100 engine in it (the bike had a chrome gas tank.  it was so awesome)

anyhoo.  Now you would think that's the end of the story, but it isn't. 

I tell Ira that if there is anything I can bring out of Ukraine then to let me know.  School books, supplies, ANYTHING.  The truck is empty and I want to help.  She's receptive and I think this will happen.  Maybe we can coordinate things for her if she doesn't, but I digress.  We say our goodbyes and when I get to the truck it sounds like this when it starts...

Now to me that sounds very "top endy" and having the sound change when I remove that oil cap only confirms things...

I go over a few scenarios in my head, but I didn't bring a single tool with me on this run.  There is literally nothing I can do now, and nothing that can break up there that I dont have enough spares and time to fix.  All I need this truck to do is to get me home.

I hop back in and pray it's just the lobes wearing themselves flat on that aftermarket cam.  I can deal with a loss of power for 2-hours.

Down the hill, I shift into second.  When I do, the world goes quiet.  The engine is still running, but it now sounds like a well oiled machine instead of a shaken can of marbles.

what gives???

I rev it a few times and still, running like a champ!

well I guess that's that then.  I'll head on home!

and I do

Off of the highway but still an hour from home, I smell coolant when I stop at the top of the off-ramp...

Is it me, or the guy infront of me?  No idea, but the engine is running cool so I don't worry about it.

about 15 minutes later, this happens:

See that coolant gauge?  No idea how long that's been like that.  "Livin on a Prayer" just came on the radio and I thought I should turn it up.  When I did, I saw I was overheating and pulled over into the ditch.

Shutting down the engine, I can hear something under the hood hissing.  This means I must have puked out all my coolant already.  Looking around, I discover it's a heater hose:

Again, I don't have any tools with me but I do have my swiss army knife (never leave home without it)

If I am very VERY lucky, I can fix this with that.  Here goes:

Clamps off then I sliced the hose just below the hole and was BARELY able to reattach it.  Digging around the back of my truck I found a half-full 5-liter bottle of deionized water for the radiator. 

It's not enough, but maybe if there's a gas station close, I can stop there and fill up.  The problem is, I have no idea where I'm at!!!

Sitting down in the driver's seat I see a sign I didn't notice before:

Fuel station, 500-meters.

You have GOT to be friggin kidding me....

Home now, and I hammered this update out in record time.  I'm realizing that I haven't eaten or drank anything all day so I'm hydrating like it's going out of style (it's HOT today).  A bit of ramen for lunch, and now it's time to go pick up the Hungarlings

Whooda thunk a quick trip to Budapest would turn into so much fun???

Anyhoo.  Thank you Girthquake for the adventure.  Ira and the children were SO EXCITED to get your package.  It's going to help them out a LOT.  Ira was looking for words but "above amazing" was all she could come up with, and I think that fits.

Wowww!!! that's ABSOLUTELY GREAT!!! BEAUTIFUL!!! 

i mean pictures of boxes and pictures from school   of course  the kids look so happy 

Thank you Bill and Thank you Ben!!! you're amazing!!!

Bill you really are a lucky man, but... whyyy? why all these adventures happening to you in every run? 

Whooda thunk a quick trip to Budapest would turn into so much fun???

hmmm...  we're certainly interested to read about your adventures, but they make you very nervous in the process 

This was really fun in every way!!!

In reply to Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) :

Bill, any reason to not have a eBay silicone hose kit show up at your house? Any preference on color?

There is significant value in not breaking down in a war zone, and this problem seems both predictable and preventable.

matthewmcl said:

In reply to Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) :

Bill, any reason to not have a eBay silicone hose kit show up at your house? Any preference on color?

There is significant value in not breaking down in a war zone, and this problem seems both predictable and preventable.

Na, thank you but send those funds to the kids.  They need it more than I do. 

This is the same hose that burst in Africa, I just forgot to do something about it (I'll take care of that now).   

Just think of the truck like the Millenium Falcon or Serenity (She's got it where it counts).  Short shakedowns like this give her a chance to let us know she's tired.  I'll give her a spa-day and a couple nights off and she'll be right as rain again.  Promise.

Besides, she's never left us stranded yet.  We just gotta undo all the POS that's been done to her over the course of the years (POS = Previous Owner Sins). 

Obligatory memes (because nerd):

Besides, I'm convinced that breaking down in Ukraine would be HEAVEN.  I'll bet dollars to cents that passing motorists or soldiers would push the truck all the way to the next town and then feed me when we got there.

VikkiDp said:

Bill you really are a lucky man, but... whyyy? why all these adventures happening to you in every run? 

Because if they didn't, we'd have nothing to write about! 

Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) said:

Just think of the truck like the Millenium Falcon or Serenity (She's got it where it counts).

 Funnily enough, those two are exactly what popped into my head  Keep up the good work Bill.

In reply to paul_s0 :

Thanks!  You know, the one good thing that came out of our recent work trip was Mrs. Hungary finding a "Serenity" DVD at a second hand store.  It cost us a whole dollar but it was worth it!

Ok, so the silicone hoses are 100% not happening  (see below)

That's nearly $400!!!!  (and then I'd have to pay VAT on the item and the shipping when it got here...)

But I will take care of proper maintenance now that I know problems exist.  To start with, I put the twice-burst hose on order:

That will hold me over short-term.  From there, I'm going to take the following diagram to the Toyota dealership:

and I'll order all the rest of the heater hoses as well (radiator hoses too, but I think I can source those off of the local market). 

Good times