We left the lovely family in Jammu after a nice breakfast and hit the road, still humbled after an unexpected free nights sleep and food. The traffic didn't treat us as kindly though, slowing us on the thin, bumpy roads. The road into the mountains had two lanes, but one was completely full of trucks, … Continue reading Day 143 to 157 – North India loop
Day 136 to 142 – Islamabad to Jammu – India!
Finally the day to leave Islamabad, it didn't start very well though. I got packed up, gear on and bike loaded, then realised the battery was entirely flat. I suspect some kids turned on the heated grips the night before, they were very interested in the bike and tend to poke around it. Luckily Martin … Continue reading Day 136 to 142 – Islamabad to Jammu – India!
Day 117 to 135 – Sost to Islamabad – Pakistan
An odd start to the day getting accosted and checked over by a plain clothes official in the hotel dining room. We had to make some copies of our Visa pages in our passports before he was satisfied. Today it was just Me, Martin and Xenia Oki having left early in the morning. Karimabad was … Continue reading Day 117 to 135 – Sost to Islamabad – Pakistan
Day 110 to 116 – Sary-Tash to Sost via China
Chilly start to the day but we were all up and excited like it was Christmas in our little house in Sary-Tash. Everyone was ready and packed sharpish, a quick breakfast then we were on the road. A couple of hours easy riding to the Kyrgyzstan border to start the exit process, stunning views of … Continue reading Day 110 to 116 – Sary-Tash to Sost via China
Day 95 to 109 – Karakul to Sary-Tash via Bishkek
Woke up all through the morning from 2am when it really got cold until 6am when I couldn't get back to sleep any more. I stumbled out the tent for a wizz to an amazing sight, looking over the lake to a clear view of the mountains again. Most mornings when I wake up, it … Continue reading Day 95 to 109 – Karakul to Sary-Tash via Bishkek
Day 91 to 94 – Khorog to Karakul
Waking up looking over to Afghanistan was a very weird experience. A lot of things on this trip are very weird and take some getting used to, but that was a big one. We all got packed away pretty quick, said our goodbyes to the German family in the truck and headed out. The roads … Continue reading Day 91 to 94 – Khorog to Karakul
Day 87 to 90 – Dushanbe to Almost Khorog
Woke up to my body giving me the middle finger, everything ached, the bed was so uncomfortable, springs poked out everywhere. When I arrived at the hostel it was the last bed in the room, I hadn't thought anything of it, but now I know why it was the last pick. Luckily the girl next … Continue reading Day 87 to 90 – Dushanbe to Almost Khorog
Day 81 to 86 – Bishkek to Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Leaving Bishkek took a good long while, the traffic in the centre is thick and the roads out of town are clogged with bazaars where trucks and taxi's stop in the road waiting for people, while the traffic backs up around them. After a couple of hours I was free though, onto some open road. … Continue reading Day 81 to 86 – Bishkek to Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Day 73 to 80 – Astana to Almaty and Bishkek
After the long break in Astana it was a little weird to get going again, but it all comes back pretty quick. I got loaded up and set off, running a few errands on the way out of town, changing some cash and stocking up a few things. The road was in great condition leading … Continue reading Day 73 to 80 – Astana to Almaty and Bishkek
Day 64 to 72 – Aktobe to Astana
Waking up in the awful motel wasn't exactly a nice way to start the day but it did get me moving nice and early. It was going to be a long run today with sparse fuel from what I could find out, maybe even all 200 miles to Aktobe, my tank can around 220 maximum, … Continue reading Day 64 to 72 – Aktobe to Astana