Day 67. Murgharb - Osh

The M41, which is as rough as guts took us to the Khyrgistan border. I have to admit I have underestimated just how rough the sealed roads are. We are probably only averaging about 40km/hr and no matter how vigilant I am the front suspension bottoms out occasionally.

The day didn’t get off to a great start, Robyn kept reliving how close to the edge we were at times and was suffering slightly from the altitude, consequently didn’t get much sleep, when she got up she put her t shirt on inside out AND back to front. Sadly the little camera we bought in Dushanbe no longer functions as it is full of dust and sand.
A couple of days R&R in Osh is due.

With the tee-shirt on the right way now. 

The hostel/hotel in Murgharb

Petrol station in Murgharb

Anyway off we set and I will say right now that if I die in my sleep tonight I will have died a happy man.

The scenery was absolutely sublime. The area around Lake Karakul just spellbinding. It was hard turning the corner and saying farewell to that scenery.

However as we approached the border a different vista opened up before our eyes to overwhelm our senses. The Pamir and Wakhan corridor has challenged us but the reward has repaid our efforts 1000x
Once again I will let the photos do the talking but I’m not sure even they can do justice to this incredible part of our planet.

The border was straightforward but the distance of no mans land is about 20km and the track is to say the least basic, at least it was dry.

Waiting in the queue at the border. 

We arrived at Sary Tash which is just a village but set with a spectacular mountain backdrop, the thought of another very basic guesthouse just wasn’t that appealing so we took the decision to roll on to Osh 190km away.
The lady at the gas station exchanged our Tajik money, I was so tired I handed her a wad of cash and she handed me a wad of cash so somehow it will work out.

What a delightful ride to Osh. Complete change of scene, the first noticeable change is the road, perfect bitumen. Unbelievable, took me about 50km before I trusted it enough to relax knowing a giant pothole wasn’t waiting to end our trip.

Beautiful green meadows with summer cottages and grazing livestock. Picture postcard stuff. The stock seem to free to roam about with many cows, goats and horses choosing a bit of time out from the grass to roam about on the road. So the pothole menace has been replaced with a livestock one. Always something to keep me alert.

We have arrived at a very nice guesthouse full of other overlanders. Our friends Kurien and Jason will meet up with others who are joining them to traverse China.  We have had such fun with these guys, we will be sorry to see them go.