15. Riding the M41 to Bishkek

date: 21 Jul '09
week: 6 of 16
day: 41 of 113
weather: Hot and sunny again :)
country: Kyrgyzstan
nearest town: Bishkek
latt, long: N 42 51.865; E 74 37.193

We left Osh for the Bishkek unlike most of the group by road, they took the more adventurous off-road route. Despite choosing the less demanding option (I like to think of it as risk management to ensure I get to NYC), it was the most fantastic ride I have ever had.

For a toll of $5 we saw breathtaking scenery of mountains, the

beautiful Lake Toktogul and deep green covered hills and sped along beautifully maintained twisting roads, which for the second day followed a fast flowing river, it was just fantastic.

As we took the faster route we also had an extra day at the hotel in Bishkek - bonus. Today I am nursing a slight hangover.

14. Samerkand, Uzbekistan.

date: 15 Jul '09
week: 5 of 16
day: 35 of 113
weather: Hot and Sunny
country: Uzbekistan
nearest town: Samarkand
latt, long:N 39 38 966; E 66 58 000
distance traveled: approx. 6,500 miles

Since the last post we have travelled through Azerbaijan, across the Caspian Sea (a night mare boat journey of 13 hours crossing and 55 waiting to enter the port).

The crazy country of Turkmenistan (police state) the capital Ashgabat has many marble and gold buildings with no apparent use. The former leader 'Turkman the Great' died quite a while
back and now the country is run by his dentist! Coincidentally? many of the residents have gold teeth.

Following Turkmenistan a reasonable sense of normality has returned in Uzbekistan - nice people and the best fresh baked bread so far; although few members of the trip have escaped loosened bowel movements.

The picture opposite is of a 'gas crater' (diameter about the length of a football pitch) in the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan. The are various stories about how it was created, the one I was told by our guide (all foreigners must be accompanied by a guide in Turkmenistan) is as follows.

During their occupation of Turkmenistan the Russians drilled for gas in the desert, one day at this site there was a big explosion all that was left was a crater of burning gas. No one seems to know how many people died or what exactly happened, even the local people did not know about the crater until the early nineties after Russians left. The gas has been burning for at least 20 years perhaps even since the 1950's.

Another couple of days riding in this country and then it is on to Kyrgyzstan and more off-road riding building up to the big one - Mongolia.

13. Tbilisi, Georgia

date: 07 Jul '09
week: 4 of 16
day: 23 of 113
weather: Hot and Sunny
country: Georgia
nearest town: Tbilisi
latt, long:
distance traveled: km, miles, ( %)

Resting in Tbilisi and awaiting for the Azerbijian visas to come through, hopefully by lunch time. Turkey as I hoped was a fantastic place to travel through. The scenery was fantastic and the ancient town of Goreme was the highlight. Hundreds of houses in caves, including our hotel room. I will add photos when I get the time and technology together.

Georgia has the worst drivers so far, on the 2 lane 'motorway' on the way in cars overtake overtaking cars in both directions, so before the critical moment 3 lanes of traffic are approaching each other in both directions, and all withyout indicatosr! I hold back on the bike and get eady for the hard shoulder. Some how I don't think the driving will improve much in Azerbijian!

We are now into the 4th week of the trip, by the end of which we will be a third of the way in time to the end of our Asian route (Korea), we will have covered more than a third in distance, but this rate will slow down when we start Mongolia.

Yet another breakfast of cheese bread and salami awaits.