Day 93. Kashgar - Tashkurgen





Our hotel, goodbye Kashgar. 

It seems like a big day even though we travelled only 270km. We had trouble with paperwork at one of the checkpoints, we stayed out of it and left it to the guide to sort out, which eventually he did. Ten minutes up the road the guide pulled over, in the confusion at the checkpoint he had left his guide card behind, so we lay in the sun on the side if the road for him to fetch it. The scenery has been spectacular again, mountain vistas, lakes both natural and man made, and dry arid deserts. 






Our guide ahead of us. 










We also touched just 4000 metres today. We are in Tashkurgen, a border town at a little over 3000 metres. Tashkurgen is inhabited mainly Tajik people who are Shia muslims.  








Everyone here is saying we are in for a long day tomorrow, so it seems it may be more difficult leaving China than entering it. 
We must have driven through about 80km of roadworks today, the road is being widened so it looks like the Karakorum highway will become the Karakorum motorway before too much longer at least on the Chinese side. 
It’s been quite cool today, we have added a couple of layers, all layers will be needed tomorrow I suspect along with a bottle of happy pills. 


Our lovely guide, hotel in behind. 


Comments

  1. russellmarie19 August 2019 at 15:01

    "...along with a bottle of happy pills." So, does that mean that there are times you'd rather not be grinding out the km?" I admire your discipline and motivation. I think I'd get parked up in a place that was pleasant and interesting, spend a few days. Then get in strife over visas and exit dates, and meeting boats and so on.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mark19 August 2019 at 17:53

    Hi Russell. No not at all. We live being on the bike. I was referencing the patience required when dealing with border officials (some) and the sometimes stupid rigmarole you need to go through often just to leave a country.

    ReplyDelete
  3. russellmarie19 August 2019 at 20:20

    Thanks.I don't think I could deal with all of that.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lynne Long20 August 2019 at 19:00

    You're amazing. Love hearing your stories. Keep up the good work. (ps secretarybot is your neighbour in Waitarere - Lynne Long.)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mark20 August 2019 at 19:41

    Hi Lynne
    Nice to hear from you. Glad you are enjoying the blog. We are having an adventure that is for sure.

    ReplyDelete

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