Bit soon after my last blog but what the heck - the internet connection speed for some reason is awesome (ie average for Europeans). Just arrived back in Samarkand from our visa shopping spree in Tashkent, so called international regional travel hub and good fun too. Steve has decided to have a holiday and so is leaving our bike quest and flying out to Thailand - on the way back to New Zealand, good luck, has been good cycling together. It's Keith and I now, setting of into the Himalayas on Sunday.
Took the train back here, Samarkand, to get back to the bikes - seated next to 2 high level army Majors in our 1st class carriage, and one served my tea aswell. Looking out of the window, views across the plains towards the Hilimilyas and vast snowy peaks thrusting skywards. Gulp, will be cycling there in a few days. My poor abandoned bike was obidiently waiting back at the guest house, looking at me with sad puppy eyes, and I felt guilty as there was now a puncture. Ok, a cycle tourist gets kinda attached to his bike. Many locals talk about families, as this is important here, so when ask if I'm married I just point to the bike!
Uzbek has been good, we have not used the tents, the guesthouses are good - in the old way, ie the western travellers here are more interesting to hang around with, having made the effort to be somewhere very different and a little hard to get to.
Tomorrows challenges are: stock up on biscuits, re-organise & pack bags, throw away excess weight, bicycle health check, hang around (prefer this), and find something silk-roadish for a trophy photo - in order to know I'm really here. I hear the grave-yard is worth seeing. Also, have to find the bazaar across the other side of town - to get a new bottle cage - and this is a rest day!!!
Ok, am going to tell you a secret about the "Silk Road", it's made of Tarmac. Ok, I just had few beers, its late;) Hi to Bernadete (yep prob I spelt your name wrong;), enjoyed meeting in Tashkent, have a good 2 year bike trip, keep in touch.
As a pre-caution, I contacted the Foreign Office before entering Iran, and they have been following my progress reading this web-site. Wow, its a nice feeling, knowing your country is watching over you! Good to be British, good stuff, what-o!