50 degrees in the Turkmen desert
It was an early start for many of the riders today.
There were some indications at the rider meeting that the distance was going to be about 20 kms longer than previously planned (in order to shorten the ride into Ashgabat tomrorow) so many riders had packed up and were raring to go when the Af Routes boys put brekky out around 5:45 this morning. The distance combined with the heat spurred the riders on, so at first light there was a mass exodus out of camp.
What lay ahead... 162 km of bumpy, flat road and the wind gods deciding not to be so friendly. There was an annoying head wind for most of the day. With lunch at 90 kms many of the riders were on the second half of the day by midday but unfortunately the heat of the day had struck by then, so most made use of the holes in the aquaducts along the way (a great bath and cool down opportunity) A great little truck stop at 145 kms that sold cold beer and drinks and had enough shade to make the heat bearable took the edge off as the mercury soared to about 50 degrees.
However, around 6 pm tonight, just as the last riders appeared at the desert camp, so did a water tanker bringing cold water for the riders to have a 'shower' and wash themselves.
About 5 minutes later, one of our local Turkmen support vans arrived with cold water, cold beer and cold sodas.
So the worst of the day is over... with 162 km under their belts, cold showers and cold drinks in the middle of the Turkmen desert... it's heaven all over again for the Silk Route riders.
|
Posted August 31, 2007 by Field Writer
Turkmenistan |
|
