le long du lac Karakum
douleur à la cuisse droite
paysage saisisant
robinet pour se laver les mains
préparation des brochettes pour le déjeuner
restaurants de bord de route, de grandes paillasses servent de table
dernier riz au lait de la réserve et connivance
photo de famille
sourire
jeunes garà§ons
petit canal d’irrigation, typique de l’Asie centrale
dernier ravitaillement avant la frontière, le ciel s’est couvert
D124 – 79.7Km
THURSDAY, APRIL 20
N40 13.115 E69 44.741 (401m – 12 km from Khujand) – N40 22.150 E70 27.608 (391m – 100m from the Uzbeck border post)
79.7 km – 12H12′
We are in the suburbs of Khujand but very quickly find ourselves in the Tajikistan countryside. We are following the South side of the Karakum Lake (70 kilometers long and 20 kilometers wide), an immense reserve of water fed by the Syr Daria River, with a magnificent mountain on it’s north side. The heat intensifies the colors and makes the scenery breathtaking. As in Uzbekistan, the roads are lined with mulberry bushes, which will have their branches pruned in May so that the silk worms can feed on them until they spin their cocoons. All this reminds us that we are on the silk road.
At his second feeding, Serge asked for a support bandage to relieve a cramp at the back of his right thigh and it seemed to help him. Like it or not, he went on. This morning we didn’t know if we would go through the border to Uzbekistan since we will enter that country again at Qoqand, then Andijan before reaching Osh in Kirghistan.
Laure went on a reconnaissance with Mr. Khatam to know the exact number of kilometers which remain, for we have learned at our expense that the maps are not always reliable. It goes without saying that 5 kilometers on foot makes a difference. Benjamin has lost his voice and has a sore throat and a congested nose, surely because of the heat. But Ben isn’t one to complain and has kept his smile.
At noon a decision was taken: Serge will cross the border, which will mean a stage of 78 kilometers. Like the day before yesterday (81 kilometers), Serge will run extra in order to go through the border posts at the end of the stage, rather than at the beginning of the day. This will prevent him from doing 5 or 10 kilometers in the morning and then being blocked for an hour or more before having to start again, knowing that he still has a whole day to finish.
On the road there was an exchange between Laure and Serge: “I’m on the verge of a nervous breakdown” “and I’m on the verge of physical exhaustion!”
The two of us make a pair. The most important thing is that doubt hasn’t insinuated itself in our minds. Come what may, we keep going with all the participants in this adventure:
— The followers, who live this adventure with passion and devotion and who all play their part in the success of the undertaking.
-The readers, with 42, 776 visits to our website in the month of March (this figure increases month by month). The messages of encouragement are a real consolation.
– Dominique alias Zette and the unfailing support of our families, who are always in our thoughts.
At 78.3 kilometers, after 10H38 minutes of race, Serge arrived at the Tajikistan border post. We were just finishing the formalities for the vehicles. This border resembled a fair, where great numbers of idlers spend their days. Children feel right at home and Serge is a real curiosity. One of the children even wanted to find him a woman to marry! There was general hilarity.
At 20H15, we set up camp along the road 2 kilometers from the border. There are gusts of wind which make the camper sway for all it’s worth. It will be a restless night.