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Ride Tales Post your ride reports for a weekend ride or around the world. Please make the first words of the title WHERE the ride is. Please do NOT just post a link to your site. For a link, see Get a Link.
Photo by Mark Newton, Mexican camping

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Mark Newton,
Camping in the Mexican desert



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  #2401  
Old 29 Jul 2017
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July 13 Dekh to Khorog 118 km

Screen Shot 2017-07-17 at 17.20.19 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We were up several times in the night and eventually got up at 730 when the room started to fill with smoke from the fire they had lit outside. This was all topped off by the guy demanding 200 somoni (23 USD) a person for food, the non room, no shower, no hot water, no bathroom, and certainly no wifi. We had all this for 80 (9 USD) in Tavildara and this place should be 50 at most. Dan said you must think I am crazy and paid him 100 a person which he accepted. I hate being ripped off.

Tajik Pamir-86 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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  #2402  
Old 29 Jul 2017
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We set out at 830 and the road is pot holed and surfaced about 70%. There are a few sections with good pavement that last a km and we were in 5 th gear! We only planned to go 118 km to Khorog today and get a hotel and rest up for the next few days of camping.

Tajikistan khorong by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-87 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-88 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-89 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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  #2403  
Old 29 Jul 2017
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It is 56 km to Rushon and as we arrived there Trevor had a front flat. Long story short 3 hours in the heat to get out. The first tube had a tiny hole and the patch was good, but we could not set the bead and it did not seem to hold air. This tube out again and no evidence of anther hole or patch leak. New tube in and still could not set the bead. We have never had this issue before with Dan’s 6 flats using our pump. In the end we put it back on the bike and left and so far so good. The Heidenau are so stiff and this may be the issue.

Tajik Pamir-91 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Yet another check point. We found they call ahead since when we arrived before the other 2 the guard asked us where they were.



Tajikistan khorong-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


Tajikistan khorong-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


Tajikistan khorong-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-92 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-93 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-94 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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  #2404  
Old 29 Jul 2017
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We had just 67 km to go to Khorog and arrived about 2. We gassed up with some 95 and then check out the hotels on offer and it is pretty bad. Just out of town is the Pamir lodge frequented by foreigners and we headed there just in time as at 3 pm the town was shutting down and closing the roads to access here for the “Diamond Jubilee”. This is several venues around town open only to residents and there is loudspeakers blaring. They really had guards blocking off the roads. One Swiss couple had to park their car on the back street of the lodge because the guards would not let them drive it 20 meters to the lodge gate. We did walk the 2 km into town and went to the Indian restaurant. Both Orvar and Sara have bad colds and were in bed by 6. The party outside went on until midnight.

Tajikistan khorong-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-95 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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  #2405  
Old 29 Jul 2017
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July 14 Khorog to across the river from Pagol Afganistan
We were off to a bit of a late start today and finally got out of town at almost 10. The plan was to get at least 150 km or about 1/3 of the way to Murgab on the Wakhan valley road. The direct route is on the 41 for 317 km, which is a paved road and the second highest road in the world (this is a days ride) . The views on the valley road, which is not surfaced for the most part are said to be much better and the route is about 100 km longer and will take at 2-3 days.

Screen Shot 2017-07-17 at 17.11.12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Screen Shot 2017-07-17 at 17.23.35 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Screen Shot 2017-07-17 at 17.27.21 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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  #2406  
Old 29 Jul 2017
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We were surprised to find the road mostly surfaced headed out of Khorag.. The first 80 km took several hours since we stopped so much for photos and we did have one military check.

Tajikistan Pagol by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-96 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Pagol-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-98 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-103 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-104 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Pagol-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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  #2407  
Old 29 Jul 2017
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People were still celebrating in the villages and one particular group of women was dancing in the street and Sara joined in.

Tajik Pamir-99 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-101 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-100 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Pagol-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-102 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Pagol-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Pagol-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Pagol-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Pagol-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Pagol-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Pagol-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Pagol-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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  #2408  
Old 29 Jul 2017
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We arrived to Eshkashem/Ishkashim bridge, which is the famed bridge of the afghan market. This is now just an urban legend as there is absolutely no traffic across this bridge and no market on the Afghan side.

Screen Shot 2017-07-09 at 15.26.20 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Pagol-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Pagol-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Pagol-14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Pagol-15 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Our friend Steve Stewart on the right not to far from here but back in the day!!

19756771_1201953103266849_7994838002837941334_n by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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  #2409  
Old 29 Jul 2017
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About 1230 we came upon a “hotel/spa” and restaurant for lunch. Just after we left the lunch spot we hit some more ripio and Dan’s 800 cut out. It restarted and then cut out again. It ran fine in Neutral. Hmmm we hoped it was the battery connection and luckily for us it was. The negative had been shaken loose with the very rough roads of the last few days.

Tajikistan Pagol-16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

The road from here was still mostly surface with patches of gravel until about the 150 km mark.
Tajik Pamir-105 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Pagol-17 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-106 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-107 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Pagol-18 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-108 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-109 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-110 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-111 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-113 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-114 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-116 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Our tax dollars at work!
Tajik Pamir-115 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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  #2410  
Old 29 Jul 2017
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After the 150 km mark there were long stretches of deeper gravel and one particularly deep sand section that claimed Trevor and Sara.

Tajikistan Pagol-19 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-118 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-119 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-120 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-121 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-122 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-124 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Pagol-20 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Pagol-21 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-125 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-126 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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  #2411  
Old 29 Jul 2017
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We did keep going as we did not find anywhere to camp with any shelter. Finally at about 4 we came across a homes tay with a walled yard that was across the river from Pagol Afganistan. We could camp here with breakfast for 5$. The toilet in a long drop, but odour free. The “douche” was awesome. They have a huge metal barrel filled with water on a electric burner device and it was glorious. You stood in the tub and poured clean hot water over yourself! The tents and gear set up done it was time to cook our pasta and sauce with mars bars for dessert. The camp is at 3000 m, which is a bit high for us as we were at 2500 m last night and with the head colds Sara and Orvar did suffer. We are glad to be inside the walls as the evening thermal wind is brisk and gusting.

Tajikistan Pagol-22 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-127 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


Tajik Pamir-128 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-129 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-130 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-131 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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  #2412  
Old 30 Jul 2017
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July 15 “Pagol" to Murgab

Today the plan was to get another 1/3 of the way to Murgab at least. We were up at 6 as we were in bed at asleep at 830. But first some breakfast and we hit the road just before 9.

Tajik Pamir-132 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-133 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

The more we think about it the more we think we can make it all the way to Murgab today. Google will not route that way so here is the SPOT map. It is about 300 km and all but the last 130 km is unpaved.


Screen Shot 2017-07-17 at 17.11.53 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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  #2413  
Old 30 Jul 2017
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It is 30 km more along the river before the road heads north. Almost all of this is unpaved and there are long stretches of deep gravel they have dumped on the road and a fair amount of sand. The rest is terrible wrist breaking wash board.

Tajikistan Murgab by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-134 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-135 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-136 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-137 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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HU RR Finding Freedom...World Wide Ride
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  #2414  
Old 30 Jul 2017
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When we head north off the river and the Afghan border the fist section is 6 tight, steep, rocky off camber switchbacks, but then the road surface is mostly firm going up into the mountains. There are just a few short sandy sections to contend with.



Tajikistan Murgab-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Murgab-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Murgab-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Murgab-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Murgab-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-138 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


Tajik Pamir-141 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-142 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-143 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Murgab-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Murgab-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Murgab-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Murgab-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Murgab-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Murgab-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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  #2415  
Old 31 Jul 2017
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We came upon a huge waterfall and there were 8 cyclists and Jo in a truck. We had a nice rest and talked to the other traveler. We gave 2 of the girls some candy bars and food as they had run out of food except pasta and ketchup. (There is nothing for at least 40 km where there is a small village and then nowhere else until you reach Murgab in 200 km).

Tajikistan Murgab-14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-147 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajikistan Murgab-15 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tajik Pamir-144 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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