After the though weeks in Tajikistan, I need time for recovery. My hostel here in Osh is a good place for that, as it has good Internet, comfortable rooms, and nice people around.
Cleaning my bicycle
The Pamirs not only left their tracks on my personal fitness, but also on my bike. Sand, dust, and mostly mud from the descent from the Tajik border stuck to my bicycle, making it run less smooth and increasing the wear-off of the chain and other components.
Luckily things are uncomplicated here in Osh. Around the corner from my hostel, there is a car wash. I quickly took my bicycle there, and voilà: 5 minutes later it was clean again. Adding a bit of grease to the chain and everything runs smooth again.
Planning my remaining days
I intend to return to Switzerland in around three weeks, and until then I want to get most out of my stay here in Kyrgyzstan. I basically have roughly two weeks for cycling left with some reserve days for unexpected events (bicycle problems, snow in the mountains, or whatever else might come). Also, I have to slowly plan and book my return flight. Because I have a lot more luggage than a normal passenger, going through the tariff lists of the airlines is tiring. But here in the hostel, I have good Internet and therefore I take advantage of this, because the next two weeks I will be in remote areas again.
Extensive dinner here in Osh
After a lazy day, I went with some Swiss, German, and Dutch friends which I met here at the hotel to a fancy restaurant in Osh called Izyum. They had a very good cuisine, I ordered Shashlik, the typical grilled meat from this region, and some grilled vegetables. The difference between me and my friends: I was the only one travelling on bicycle, the others were travelling by motorcycle (Swiss), minibus (Germans), and a huge RV or actually truck (Dutch). This reflected itself in the amount of appetite. Needless to say that I was the one who ordered and ate the most by far. I had at least half a kilogram of meat, French fries, an appetizer, and two desserts, including a healthy plate of fruit. I don’t remember when I ate that much before, but it clearly showed me that I used way more energy in the Pamirs than I was receiving through the food and my body was in urgent need of some energy. I guess after one more day of Osh, I should be ready again for cycling.
