14degrees off the beaten track
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November 28th, 2006 | categorizilation: all categories,Uzbekistan

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Another long day into a chilly head wind – 120km again. I do love these long straight roads though. You can just keep pedalling and pedalling and pedalling…but then it gets dark, which is rather a pain. Just when you’re getting into it at around 5pm, everthing goes dark. And an LED head torch just doesn’t cut it for illumination.

I do miss the deserted roads of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. There are many people on this main road to Buhara, which means we are back to the usual business of cars slowing down (on a main highway) to trundle along beside me and shout out the window, trying to speak to me.

There is a bonus on this highway however, and that is the frequent tractor traffic. These slow beasts, hauling spent cotton plants on massive trailers, are just at the right speed that I can catch up and draft along behind them. Nice to get out of the wind and get a ‘free ride’.

Buhara is a dream. An open air museum with narrow lanes and old buildings. The B&B that I am staying at (Mubinjan B&B) is essentially a museum. 280 years old, it is maintanied by a half Tajik, half Iranian man in his 50s. He is an ex professional sprinter, who sprinted for the USSR back in the day. His career ended however when he damaged his hamstring in a start in a race. Jolly interesting bloke.

A minaret in Buhara, Uzbekistan

A door in Buhara, Uzbekistan

A lock in Buhara, Uzbekistan

Arches in Buhara, Uzbekistan

Domes in Buhara, Uzbekistan

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    Permanent Link     Comments (3)

Comment by Mum — November 30, 2006 @ 6:01 am | post a comment

Interesting looking place. Buildings have an Arabic look about them

Comment by Aunty Les — December 2, 2006 @ 3:04 pm | post a comment

Nice change to be biking on the flat. You wont be getting hot then cold all the time.

Comment by Uncle Peter — December 3, 2006 @ 6:59 pm | post a comment

You say you miss the deserted roads of Kyrgyzstan. In your promo before this intrepid journey all began, you predicted missing the scorching heat of western China and the fermented mare's milk from Kyrgyzstan. We haven't heard any mention of that delicacy in your highlights of the day. Can we read between the lines that it's not all it's cracked up to be.

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