Motorcycle Retrieval last weekend
A friend of mine runs a motorcycle rental company in Osh, Kyrgyzstan and had a motorcycle break down last year at Tash Rabat (Naryn region, near the Chinese border). They didn't have time to retrieve it last summer, so as soon as the snow cleared enough I ran down there to pick it up in our one-ton Vito. That was last weekend. Evidently the snow hadn't completely cleared as I got stuck in 4 snow drifts on the final 15km road to the ancient caravan stop (caravansarai). Dawned on my at some point that I drove across a Central Asian country to a 1000 year old, fortified caravan stop, picked up a broken motorcycle, and spent the night in a village farm house with yaks in the yard, but it felt normal! Some days I love my job!!! Bit of an overcast weekend, but here's the pictorial version of the story.
Dolon Pass heading to Naryn.
Heading out of Dolon Pass into Naryn
Vito in front of Tash Rabat
Tash Rabat itself
Entryway
Standard room
Yours truly in the great room. Just trying to imagine a roaring fire and the place filled with travelers from all over the world.
The Soviets "rebuilt" the structure rather crudely. The modified parts are quite visible here.
Interestingly the small domes from each room are mostly covered in dirt. Maybe this had a moat at one time, but it seems strange to have a tall, fortified wall, but have it easy to step over in the back!
Motorcycle retrieved
The road back down from the caravan stop:
We spent the night in the village of Kara Suu with a local family that runs a yurt camp near Tash Rabat in the summer time. Their grand daughter was very cute and kept us (my wife and I) entertained. She wanted to play "tea" with my wife, then said she needed to prepare food. She proceeded to "cut" the throats of some of her play animals and then had Barbie gut and clean them. So Kyrgyz!
The randomly nice highway near At-Bashi (name means "horses head")
The pass between At-Bashi and Naryn, and part of the reason I replace so many suspension parts!
There are few historical structures in Kyrgyzstan. Most of it's buildings are distinctly Soviet or Russian. One unique feature is their "Cities of the Dead." They have hills covered in elaborate structures made from metal, brick, or mud as graves. The tradition can also be seen in Kazakhstan, but usually not as elaborate. Here is a small part seen on the hill entering Naryn from the south.
Checking the straps while fueling up in Naryn. Vitos are great motorcycle transports!
Naryn region is gorgeous, but the city itself is a bit bleak.
The main entrance to the city of Naryn, however, is reasonably stunning.
Finally back on good pavement after Dolon Pass.
The turn to Song Kul. Can't wait for summer time and lot's of trips up there again.
Trip Length: 900 km
Average Fuel Economy: 7.5 liters/100 km (about 31mpg US)
Drive time: 17 hours over two days.
on the Chinese side of the Tian Shan in 2006/07.
