Author Archives: genghis9021

Shakriszab to Samarkand . . . and Urus-Kishlak

UZBEKISTAN ! DAHHHHHHHHHHH !!! I need to get to Tajikistan and over the Pamirs before the snows come . . . it was a dry spring and everyone is complaining that it’s unusually hot now and I can “feel” that … Continue reading

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Khiva and Bukhara

Khiva is small, very manageable to visit and see the sights. From the watchtower above the Ark you overlook nearly everything of interest. This encourages lounging a bit and reflecting on a number of things like . . . my … Continue reading

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Uzbekistan: When I grow up, can I be a real police state ?

Trip Updates/Milestones: 8700km ~ 5500 miles, not including the entirely unnecessary 1800 miles in the US . . . Three (3) front flats – tire casing hole, 2 (same) tube failures Slow leakage of radiator overflow tank – suspect faulty … Continue reading

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“Da” redux

Ok, no photos this time – it’s Uzbekistan and the internet bandwidth, isn’t. Speaking of isn’t . . . fuel prices have DROPPED to $2.45 / gallon. So has the octane. The last two “tanks” have been 80 Octane. It’s … Continue reading

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The “da” factor . . .

Apologies for this rather obnoxiously long post. Life’s exigencies have intruded and . . . . this is a mashup ! Sorry. Since I got “wobbly” at the Anatolia Civilizations museum here’s something to make the north American readers wobbly … Continue reading

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The trip of a lifetime

Reactions to my trip continue to puzzle me. Even in Russia locals are telling me that it’s not possible, or crazy, and wishes of “good luck” are hastily delivered before moving on. How anything done ENTIRELY electively is “hardcore”, or … Continue reading

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Drang nach Osten . . .

. . . translates to “yearning to go East”. Something the Germans (and others) have felt in Europe, ironically, for centuries. Ironic, because so many invaders had forced the current inhabitants of Europe ever further westward. This didn’t happen in … Continue reading

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Vlad the Impaler

Wow ! The physical view of America from Vancouver is . . . stunning. Mt Rainier looks better from Canada than it does across the quadrangle on the UofW. I haven’t been on a plane with that percentage of white … Continue reading

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Obsessions die hard ?

Today it’s hard to feel relief more than excitement about the trip. It’s been silly hard to get this thing underway. In the end, this “run” will be much less about physical and technical (riding) challenge and more about just … Continue reading

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Orange fizz . . .

Today I’m grinding through the hotel and airline and ferry cancellations necessary after learning last nite, as sadly expected, that the bike did NOT ship from LAX. The air and hotel cancellations were due to the possible shipping container plan. … Continue reading

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