The bumpy dirt pass

One of Alice’s key objectives is to stay as high (and cool) as possible. But to move south we must cross the central valley of Georgia which brings with it big roads and heavy traffic.

To escape the main road to Tblisi (with extra load as this bit of motorway is still under construction) we choose a bumpy dirt pass. Luckily it’s dry so there is not a mud problem. Unluckily there is a lot of construction work on and near the road. The surface is very rough and we are sharing it with many work trucks. There is 40km of dirt and bump and heat and we are tired and battered by time we reach the memorably unimpressive top.

The valley we are following is also used by the railway line, the continuation of the Erzurum line that we cycled beside in Turkey. It’s not new, with old viaducts and curious huge stone river-bearing bridges. The latter allow water to cross over the railway and then exit in a novel bridge-waterfall. Parts of the railway line are being replaced with new spiralling tunnels such that in places old and new tracks are travelling at right angles one above the other.

Once down from the pass its time to start heading up again. Sigh. Alain stocks up on fruit and veg and a large bag of cherries - a highlight of the day. We book a room a little further on, enjoying the ride across the river on a narrow suspension bridge.Read more