As already stated fuel is really cheap but there are very few filling stations and the queue are endless, plus you have to give them the exact money of what you want. Fortunately we have a very nice lady who would fill us up and let us pay afterwards which i think is a very novel idea and it might just catch on.
All filled we head for the capital Ashgabat which are long and straight. Yes i know it looks like a dual carriage way but one side is under construction and the used side is probably equivalent to the roads in the UK now.
This is entering into desert and what do you have in the desert?
“CAMELS”
These things are just quietly walking down the side of the road until a load of noisy bikers come along and disturb there tranquillity, then they decide they will cross the road without a care in the world. You hit one of these and you will be in hospital for weeks
Finding your way there is harder than you think as there may be only one road on the map but the signs are very rare to the point of being nonexistent, the sign you see here was after over 100 miles
Time for a coffee stop or Tea stop really, as that is what everyone drinks and we also had to wait for the group of 800’s to catch up. We had stopped earlier for a drink and the guys with the 800’s were sent a few minutes ahead to get fuelled up as the adventurers had enough fuel to get them to they next fill. The stations are usually tucked away from the road and they missed it and then Max had his chain break. He had a replacement on him but had to wait for the support van o catch up with them to splice the chain together with the correct tool. They had also gone down the old road “WRONG!) Should read he route notes boys.
Of course we are still in the desert, so more camels
The desert so why rain and the roads are getting worse
Mileage is not that high but the roads to the capital are all under construction until about 50 miles away and when we get to within 15 miles we are greeted at the side of the road by Police and as we go into a petrol station they follow. This time i have to give 20 Manat and the attendant get 17 Manat in, he keeps the change, Hmm!
The police say they would be happy to escort us in to the capital (Max the guide at work me thinks)
Finally at the hotel where we have to wait to put our bikes in the car park as the road is closed for 15 minutes for the president coming through
I think it is marvellous for him to welcome us to his country
4789 miles – Ashgabat, Turmenistan
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