An hour or so after we had said goodbye to Evgeniy and ridden away, we saw a flock of sheep … Continue reading The Sook Valley and on to the Kuldja Bulak

The jailoo is not fenced but I had noticed that strangers do not encroach on another’s space until invited and we walked … Continue reading The Arpa Valley

Venturing, from a deep night’s sleep in the dark womb of a yurt, into bright sunshine is the best start … Continue reading Chatyr Kol and into forbidden territory.

Ride Four On Independence Day the year before I had been introduced to Anvar, the general director of the Kyrgyz … Continue reading Bishkek to Tash Rabat via Hawaii ( 2017)

The 25th Anniversary of Kyrgyzstan’s Independence from Russia dawned bright and sunny and the Asia Mountains Hotel, a place that … Continue reading Independence Day in Bishkek

We left straight after breakfast. Our hosts were visibly disappointed in us. It was impossible to explain, language shortcomings aside, … Continue reading Kochkor for lunch.

The next day we loaded all the kit into the minibus. We rode past the camel on our way to … Continue reading 33 Parrots and on to Son Kul.

Over the brow the topography started to change. Rough long grass and buff sandy earth replaced the green jailoo. For … Continue reading Across the Kashgar to Bishkek road.

The following morning, as we neared the shepherds, a young girl cantered up to us with her arms flapping and … Continue reading Tirek

In the night a lorry, on its way to the gold mine, had woken us all. It had bucketed along … Continue reading Another gorge…. another pass….