Today was (supposed to be) our first foray over 3000m but in the end as the Chinese have been busy building a new road according to my Garmin they’ve shaved a few metres off the top of the Dolan Pass to leave it at ‘only’ 2955m
Stage 50 rider notes
Although the rider notes suggested that the climbing was later in the ride, we really began straight from camp though as you can see below it did get steeper as we went along. As usual I really enjoyed the climb – I’ve found that 9% is about the cross-over point where speed drops below grade.
Although the descent had been expected to be dirt and gravel, there was construction all over the place with a significant proportion of it having already been paved – by the time TDA are next through here it will all be paved and will be an awesome descent!
The lunch stop was in a pretty dusty location beside some ‘highway services’
Highway services – mares milk was about all they sold 😉
The final descent through a gorge into Naryn was pretty impressive
Down through the gorge to Naryn
A couple of turns later and I was in camp, with a tree-based welcoming committee
Welcome to camp – once again we were the most interesting thing which had happened in the school holidays for the small-boys of the ‘village’
After my welcome-to-camp beer and some soup I picked a spot under the trees well away from where everyone else was likely to camp and got my tent set up in the shade.
More-or-less on time the thunderstorm rolled in and it started raining so I took shelter in my tent intending to keep writing this post but in the end a nap seemed like a much better idea.
Two hours later (some nap huh ;-)) and the rain had pretty much stopped so I decided it was time for a walk to the nearby shop for (another) ice cream, biscuits and (another) beer to have with dinner – duck and vegetable stir-fry – delicious!
Riding data
| Total distance: | 119.64 km | Total Time: | 06:20:23 |
| Max elevation: | 2956 m | Min elevation: | 1808 m |
| Total climbing: | 1471 m | Total descent: | -1235 m |
| Average speed: | 18.87 km/h | Maximum speed: | 54.00 km/h |
View from my tent
Red cliffs across the river from our campsite
Great view from the tent. Why do the riders notes have ‘Distance subject to change’ on the last few days?
Mostly we’re camping on ‘free land’ which means that locals may have moved in, might be grazing their stock there, or as happened in one case set up their beehives there. There has also been quite a bit of rain in the hills and mountains around where we’ve been so a couple of the intended sites were very muddy.
Isn’t it interesting that you never see the local girls? I guess they are at home doing all the housework…
I’ve been wondering about that too, Jillian. Where are the ‘small girls’ and what exactly are they doing? I reckon you’re right about the housework!
A country of contrasts – mountains and a variety of roading surfaces! And boys up on a tree. I bet you made their day! Love the photos as they give a real sense of what each country is about.
They were very cute and brought us a number of presents consisting mostly of unripe fruit presumably ‘acquired’ from various trees around the village. Lots more photos being uploaded now as I try and get up-to-date with blog posts 🙂