Crossing to Osh

...after one night in Karakol we continue to the west. We ride along the southern shore of Issyk Köl, a lake so big it resembles the sea on our right hand. On the left, red canyons and behind them snow covered mountain peaks. We're kicking some dust and mud on the gravel road, which in parts is being transformed into a wide tarmac ribbon.
Later, the wind blows heavily in the valley of the Orto Tokoy reservoir, where horses, cows and camels graze in peace.
We make it to Kochkor where first we enjoy a pizza to then decide to take a room in a guest house.
The next day, a beautiful road north of Song Kul brings us to Kazarman. It's said to be the new road and in fact it is in pretty good condition although every now and then a landslide made it disappear and Murghob and Kismet tractor us through the rocky alternative.
Kazarman - some say "the pearl of Kyrgyzstan" , some refer to it as "it's @ssh0le"... We have a Laghman, get some groceries and head out to to the dust again where we set camp next to the river.
The following day starts with 100 km of heavy dusty gravel road up the mountains towards Jalal-Abad. The maps say it's taking ridiculously long, and in fact it takes even longer: Although leading us through a cinematic, wild landscape, the road takes it's toll as one tipped over truck blocks half of the road, and another one blocks it entirely. We have to then wait until two diggers pull it aside. The little traffic accumulated here, starting then a wall of death without any order once the road is cleared... One has to have IronBalls over here. After Joon Kunggöy the road turns to asphalt, giving us the true threat of the region: other traffic participants. Jalal-Abad close to the Uzbek border is a headache, to an extend that at 7 pm, after only 165 km, we decide to set camp in the mosquito governed swamps next to the busy road. After a short sleep, we finally make it to Osh, where we will stay three nights to recover minds, flesh and steel, since the bikes will have an oil change and us some drinx as well.

Keep kicking, it's getting tough!Leggi altro