Archive for the ‘Cycling’ Category

Day 144. 80km. Takchtahamit – Khorog turnoff

Posted: September 24, 2015 in Cycling, Tajikistan
Tags: , , ,
0

Today. A toilet audience. A wheel jammed in the gutter. A presidential 12000km from Eindhoven celebration. A belly of berries. A wind in all directions. Scree-slope roads. Climbs and drops. The mountains are getting bigger. I liked today.

Berries

Berries

He was sitting on the ridge – the little shepherd boy. From his perch he could see everything. Every possible toilet spot. And I needed to go. We often get audiences. Often kids. They just stand there and watch.

Our camping spot

Our camping spot

We only needed to go 4km today for me to reach 12000km from Eindhoven. At the 11999km mark I was greeted twice by a billboard of the Tajikistan president – one standing in a field of tulips, and one 500m further on holding some equipment while inspecting some engineering project. I was disappointed that he waited until 12001km before congratulating me with another billboard. Still, it had all the bells and whistles – and flags.

12001km

12001km

The president

The president

Reece got stuck in the gutter while getting back from the presidential address.

Reece in the gutter

Reece in the gutter

Today was a day of climbing (and even more often, descending) in the scree. It made for some slow going, but gave me a sense of achievement for getting through it.

A hot climb

A hot climb

Lovely view

Lovely view

Sunset

Sunset

And today was a day of mountains of berries – we bought some from some little girls at our lunch stop.

Eating berries

Eating berries

Day 143. 79km. Dushanbe – Takchtahamit

Posted: September 23, 2015 in Cycling, Tajikistan
Tags: , , ,
0

The third farewell and best wishes were made. The group of cyclists gathered at Vero’s had reached 12. We joked about my tent being eaten by the turtle and took more photos. Finally, after 3 nights in Dushanbe I find myself on my way to the Pamir Mountains with a new cycling partner – Reece.

The cycling gang at Vero's

The cycling gang at Vero’s

We had all heard of each other.
‘Ah – you are the Australian who got held up at the Iranian border.’
They had heard of me through Monique – a French cyclist they had met, and who I had met twice – in Bukhara and in Samarqand. I met ‘the’ Swiss couple and the Belgian couple. Each had already heard the other’s stories from this closed group of Pamir cyclists.

Reece and I set off, not realising that the road climbed and climbed and climbed. We thought that happened 100km later. The mountains are just starting now, and we have an amazing camping spot next to a bendy river. Fed and cleaned (by the water fight we had in the river), we are ready for bed.

On the road

On the road

Day 142. 109km. Denav – Dushanbe

Posted: September 22, 2015 in Cycling, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
Tags: , , ,
4

I walked through the door piercing the surrounding high wall, and entered touring cyclist paradise. Vero and her house and garden are famous – all touring cyclists come here before setting out on the Pamir Highway. And here I am, little Matthew. I’m about to set out on the Pamir Highway!

Vero giving us tips on the Pamir Highway

Vero giving us tips on the Pamir Highway

Three young French cyclists ushered me in, bikes in hand. These bikes looked hard-core, with tyres wide enough to fit on a small car. As I entered in further, more bikes were hanging around. In front of me was a beautiful verandah with armchairs and couches, and a big garden full of cyclist’s tents. Another cyclist was sitting on the verandah reading. A parrot in a cage welcomed me as I was shown inside.

I had heard of Vero from other cyclists on the way. Famous like Akbar in Marand, all cyclists find themselves staying here. I spent the evening sharing stories and dreams with the other cyclists, and before I knew it, it was bed-time.

Its great to be cool again. After my heat-stroke (was it that?), I stayed in Denov for a day, mostly lying in front of the fan, or sitting inside the air-conditioned supermarket. In the evening the cool change rolled in, and it was wonderful. I cycled to Dushanbe through the haze into a headwind, but was happy. It was cool again!

Day 141. 95km. Boysun – Denav

Posted: September 21, 2015 in Cycling, Uzbekistan
Tags: , , ,
2

Surreal scenes of waterfalls, greenery, skies with fluffy clouds. In the foreground lions, maidens with milk jugs or kingfishers with freshly caught fish. These posters hang proudly in every café, hotel and restaurant. Today I dreamed about the cool water in the scene, tried to ignore the whoozy stomach and lethargy, and lay down to rest in front of the fan. Today was scorching.

Waterfall paradise

Waterfall paradise

The sun was blazing down, the road rose and fell in an undulating, dry, barren landscape. The road surface was horrendous, and I felt nauseous. It was 12:30 and I pulled into the first café I saw and flaked out on the carpet couch. I couldn’t face anything to eat. I just sipped on a cold bottle of Coke.

Midday rest

Midday rest

After a couple of hours, I managed to put away an ice-cream and some salad, and didn’t feel so hot and lack-lustre. Then a commotion outside. A second cyclist – Maxime from France. A cycling partner for the day.

Then we ran into another 3 cyclists coming the other direction. We chatted in the shade of some trees, putting off the departure back into the heat.

Before the heat struck, it was a lovely descent from Boysun into a surreal landscape – big bumps in the landscape, and a mountain range of plates of rock sticking up from the plains at an obscure angle.

Bumpy landscape

Bumpy landscape

Donkey

Donkey

The road has everything

The road has everything

Tomorrow Tajikistan if I am up to leaving the hotel.

Day 140. 79km. Dekhkanabad – Boysun

Posted: September 20, 2015 in Cycling, Uzbekistan
Tags: , , ,
0

Uphill again into the town of Boysun. There were rumours of a B&B registered for tourists. I had made the major climbs in the early morning and in the late afternoon, but still, I was knackered. Then a boy jumped out.
‘Hotel?’
‘Yes!’

Landscape near Boysun

Landscape near Boysun

Cycling in the mountains and heat takes planning. On the menu today was a big climb, a big drop, and a second big climb. This was done on a mixed bag of brand new roads and bumpy, rocky, sandy affairs. Its nice being in the mountains again. Lovely views, and it is not quite so hot.

Approaching the pass

Approaching the pass

Mountain ridge

Mountain ridge

Herder

Herder

My standard 3 hour afternoon rest/sleep. This time I was harassed by flies – and they bite!

Midday rest

Midday rest

My B&B has found a niche in the market – cycling tourists that are required to stay in registered hotels by the Uzbekistan government. Apparently there are cyclists most nights this time of year.

Day 139. 108km. Qashi – Dekhkanabad

Posted: September 19, 2015 in Cycling, Uzbekistan
Tags: , , ,
0

I’m on the cycle road to Dushanbe. I hear word of other cyclists that have passed. People are not surprised by my destination. Cycle in the morning. Sleep after lunch. Cold shower and then on into the evening. Cycling in the central Asian heat.

Midday rest

Midday rest

Today I was given a screw. A kind gentleman helped me out at the garage when I discovered a screw had come loose and fallen off making my front pannier wave around. Today I was given a piece of watermelon. And today I was given lots of encouragement toots.

Watermelon

Watermelon

And I am happy. I’ve left the endless hot, flat plains. I’ve climbed into the hills. It doesn’t feel so stiflingly hot and the scenery is nicer. Bring on the Pamir Mountains!

Up from the plains

Up from the plains


Campsite

Campsite

Day 138. 178km. Bukhara – Qashi

Posted: September 18, 2015 in Cycling, Uzbekistan
Tags: , , ,
0

Burnt and frazzled, I sit in my hotel in Qashi which is registered to host foreigners. Note to self: sun-screen bought in Uzbekistan does not work. Second note to self: allow 2 hours to find a hotel able to host foreigners. Officially I need to stay and register in a hotel every night. Tomorrow night I am camping.

That golden smile

That golden smile

Central Asia is heating up. After noon it is like a furnace, and any self-respecting cyclist is having a siesta – or trying to – lying on a carpet sofa being offered vodka, and discussing German football.

A 3-hour lunch-time break was opted for when I noticed my arms were bright red. My newly bought sunscreen seemed to have no effect – certainly not the SPF60 claimed on the tube. I told the people with the vodka of this – Uzekistan sunscreen no good. Shocked and insulted they investigated the tube – it’s made it India. Not Uzbekistan. Relief.

I was told that when in a big city I need to stay in a hotel and register (as there is a hotel, and there is no excuse not to use it). After Qashi, hotels are a bit thin on the ground, so I can camp and have a good excuse at the border. Well, try to find the hotel in Qashi. A first random cycle around resulted in nothing. Asking someone for a hotel meant that I sat in his office while he phoned some people to find out. I then was taken to a hotel – one which is not allowed to house foreigners. They took me to a second – which is also not allowed to house foreigners. I am staying at the third. I’m looking forward to my tent tomorrow. No hassle.

New video. World Cycle video part 5. Tehran to Bukhara

Posted: September 17, 2015 in Cycling
Tags: , , ,
5

With a bit of time on my hands, and a good internet connection, I have put together a video of the next leg of my bike trip. See what you think.. 🙂

Rest days. Bukhara and Samarqand

Posted: September 16, 2015 in Cycling, Uzbekistan
Tags: , ,
2

What did I do in Bukhara? Sleep. Vegetate. Blog. Bog (toilet). Video. I went for a short walk around the old town. I’m not a normal tourist. Bukhara was down-time for me. Not cycling.

Bukhara

Bukhara

In Bukhara I spent quite some time on the toilet. My body said it had had enough of cycling – it decided to make sure I get some rest. So, I got the shits. The excitement increased when I tried the local remedy – doping.

Salt and glucose solutions

Salt and glucose solutions

Samarqand is a big detour on the way to Dushanbe in Tajikistan. I wanted to see it, but I didn’t want to cycle an extra 300km through the heat – so – I became a normal tourist and caught the train (Bukhara – Samarqand – Bukhara). I can confirm that I prefer cycle tourism. A lot of elbow-work was needed to finally reach the counter at the train station to get the ticket (like how I remember India). In Samarqand, the people contact was more professional – I was a tourism customer. My bike is the key to making personal contacts to people, and I didn’t have Drahtesel (my bike). I purchased tickets to see the sights. I negotiated guide prices. People called out to me to buy souvenirs, bracelets, carpets, hats. The sights in Samarqand were beautiful. I have now seen them.

Samarqand

Samarqand

Samarqand

Samarqand

Day 137. 76km. Olot – Bukhara

Posted: September 15, 2015 in Cycling, Uzbekistan
Tags: , , ,
2

‘Why are you taking a photo?’
Thomas was taking a photo of me walking to the toilet with a jug of water to wash my backside.
The man was worried. Was his toilet no good?
‘You explain, Thomas. I need to go!’
Going to the toilet in Uzbekistan.

Going to the toilet

Going to the toilet

‘In the west we use toilet paper.’
‘We have toilet paper too!’ The man was insulted. Uzbekistan people are advanced too.
‘Yes, but you only use it to dry your backside after cleaning it with water.’
‘Yes.’ This was a yes as in, that’s obvious, why mention it. ‘You don’t use water?’
‘Yes, but only after we have cleaned our backside with toilet paper.’
It was becoming clear, a detailed explanation was required. I explained the two methods with graphic detail, acting out all the actions so I could be understood. The man – a café owner – grinned, showing us his lovely golden smile.

Cafe owner

Cafe owner

When I left Europe, I would have found this eastern method of toilet hygiene challenging. Now it is the most natural thing in the world. Indeed, it is more hygienic than using toilet paper.

We have now left Turkmenistan, and there is no visa time pressure. This means we sleep in, cycle at a snail’s pace, and have an afternoon snooze.

Afternoon snooze

Afternoon snooze

Older Entries
Newer Entries