J122 – 4/18/2006

There are times when it’s difficult to cope and that has been the case for me for a while: border crossings, a mistake in calculating mileage to the border, looking for vehicle fuel which is sold on the black market, problems finding mineral water without gas, the heat, stomach aches, Serge’s suffering, managing people who are not fully committed.  Yes there are many constraints.  Some people can’t handle, or perhaps don’t realize what the rhythm will be.  Or perhaps they simply don’t understand the reason for around-the-clock dedication to a guy who runs, with no time for tourism, not to mention the length of the days…..

I ask myself: why get involved in such an undertaking?  Everyone has been warned of the constraints before leaving.  There are moments when I would like time to stop, moments when there is no longer pleasure, moments when you have to find a very good justification for having got out of bed at 6H30 in the morning for 4 months.  Like Serge, I’m waiting for better days.

We spent three hours at the border post to get into Tajikistan.  Serge stopped his chronometer once he got through the gate.  He had to wait 90 minutes.

Thanks go to Jean-marc and Benjamin for their patience.  Such a tough day, as well as the bad moods (mine and Serge’s) required a lot of stoicism.

Let’s hope that Tajikistan will bring us the serenity that has been missing, as well as the pleasure we usually find each day.