Crossing the finishing line

Our goodbye in Murghab was rather emotional. After all, Frances and I had spent almost 80 days on the road together; camped, ate, suffered and enjoyed cycling through five different countries, from -28m up to 4,300m of elevation. And now it was over and I was heading to China. Continue reading Crossing the finishing line

Into the Pamir mountains

From Dushanbe there is only one way east: the Pamir Highway with its different branches through various valleys. Different from what its name suggests, the Pamir Highway isn’t actually a highway. Especially the valley we chose has more stones and sand than asphalt. Read on, if you’d like to know what 250 kilometres of worst gravel road do to wo/man and machine. Continue reading Into the Pamir mountains

The Tunnel of Death… wait what?

That’s at least how the Daily Mail called the five kilometres long, barely lit, unventilated Anzob Tunnel, which connects the two largest Tajik cities Dushanbe and Khujand at an altitude of 2,700m. We cycled through it. Continue reading The Tunnel of Death… wait what?

Rather interesting sightseeing 

With Frances’ support I am currently working on my British understatement skills. Take this: We have spent the past week visiting a number of not too boring places, including the reasonably aged cities of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand. The three are quite well known internationally due to a few religious buildings covered in some bluish tiles. Not the worst places to see. Continue reading Rather interesting sightseeing