Lots of trips out in the night and I wasn’t looking forward to riding today at all – we’ve got a long way to go, it’s going to get hot, and I’ve about had enough!
Stage 75 route notes
I didn’t feel like eating so as soon as it was light enough to ride I set off – the first 30km went by ok, and I then managed t slip in behind a truck load of Pepsi which was doing about 45km/h and slip stream behind that for the next 15km which really helped with progress (and pulled me past Erwin and Jackie) until it got away from me on a railway overpass where it was able to maintain the same speed, but I wasn’t.
From there to lunch the road also deteriorated which made things slower and more uncomfortable. I stopped for a bottle of liquid calories (coke) at a roundabout, which at least provided a kick of energy for a time.
Ivan came in to lunch as I was there and we headed out together with him determined that I was going to make it no matter what.
The afternoon was almost as bad as getting in to Samarkand with the rough roads aggravating the stomach cramps and nausea it was all I could do to keep following Ivan’s back wheel.
We stopped a couple of times for more coke to keep me moving but otherwise pushed on through. Once again I’m immensely grateful to my fellow riders (in this case Ivan) who have helped get me through when I’ve been feeling at my worst – it’s great that we’ve been able to build a community which is generally so supportive of each other.
Into the hotel and I must have been looking rough because as soon as I got in Andreas said ‘I’ll switch things round to get you a room now’ and then proceeded to carry my daily bag to the room for me. He also said he’d talk with Luke and Rustam as soon as they were both in and see if there’s a way that we can get some medical attention to try and see what’s wrong with me.
I had a lie down, then a shower, then another lie down during which time Ron, my roommate for the rest day arrived and Rob and Michael also stopped in to see how I was doing – the consensus was, not good!
I wandered out briefly for soft drink and water, but have otherwise spent the remainder of the day in the air conditioned cool of the hotel.
Riding data
View from my tent
Sunset over the Bukhara bazar