I leave in the rain and head towards my first big pass of Kyrgyzstan. The Kyzart Pass is at 2664m and has a bloody awful road leading to the top. The road splits after Kockor with the smooth road heading south to China. West, and up the hill, the road deteriorates into a mud and gravel road. The gradient is steep, but the surface makes the ride even harder. I get to the top in the mid afternoon and rest for a while. But I do not want to rest for too long as it is getting cold and the next village where I plan to stop is still a further 40 km ahead.
Descending is much easier. Naturally. The road is still rubbish but I can free wheel at a good pace. There are circular marks along the road side where yurta stood. I guess they have been taken down and the owners moved on to somewhere lower down and less exposed for the winter.
I reach Jumgal. A small village with a I arrive at sunset as farmers are bringing in herds of cows and goats in for the night. There are wild cats and wolves in the mountains, so farmers are wary of such beasts and want to protect their herds. I am shouted at by an angry alcoholic but given lots of cheery hellos by school children as I pass the local school. The school is huge for such a small village. This is something I have noticed in Kyrgyzstan, especially the rural areas. The schools are large and well looked after. This can only be a good thing.
A village as I climb the Kyzart Pass.
At the top! Unfortunately my Gopro has a small scratch on the lens.
Descending is much easier. Naturally. The road is still rubbish but I can free wheel at a good pace. There are circular marks along the road side where yurta stood. I guess they have been taken down and the owners moved on to somewhere lower down and less exposed for the winter.
I reach Jumgal. A small village with a I arrive at sunset as farmers are bringing in herds of cows and goats in for the night. There are wild cats and wolves in the mountains, so farmers are wary of such beasts and want to protect their herds. I am shouted at by an angry alcoholic but given lots of cheery hellos by school children as I pass the local school. The school is huge for such a small village. This is something I have noticed in Kyrgyzstan, especially the rural areas. The schools are large and well looked after. This can only be a good thing.
A village as I climb the Kyzart Pass.
At the top! Unfortunately my Gopro has a small scratch on the lens.
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