May 26, 2025
26May2025
It was a rainy start to what promised to be a cloudy and slightly cooler day today. It didn't matter because it was still 28 degrees, so a bit of rain was actually welcome! I made my way out of Kokand on narrow empty streets at 7am and soon found my self on the road to Andijan, 128km away. The wind turned into a head wind, and the road surface fluctuated between smooth and rough. Both these factors made today a harder day than anticipated. The road to Andijan is painfully straight, and it reminded me of my desert rides, only this was a green desert with wheat fields and rivers to make it slightly more interesting. I met a group of young boys who were thrilled to know about my bike and how far it had come, and then asked for a selfie! Their excitement was tangible, and I really enjoyed the encounter during which very few words were exchanged correctly, but actions spoke loud! I shared a packet of Oreo cookies with them. I made it into Andijan just as the rain started again. Andijan is a business centre in Uzbekistan, where I spotted business people from India, Tirkiye and China. Ed arrived an hour later, we had dinner and then settled down for the evening. Tomorrow we hope to cross the land border into Kyrgyzstan, after a 60km climb into the foothills of the very distant Pamir mountains.
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Today's ride: 129 km (80 miles)
Total: 2,077 km (1,290 miles)
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