BANGKOK - TDASR2016 has started!

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BANGKOK 6 AUGUST, 2016

I am now in Bangkok. Arrived with 55 kgs of gear- bike, tyres and parts; camping gear; a small quantity of clothing, weighty medical kit and a cardboard bike box weighing over 5 kgs.

I fly onto Samarkand on Monday, 8.8, via Istanbul, an airport layover of 6 hours, then fly to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, wait 3 hours, then a train trip of about 3 hours to Samarkand, arriving on the 9.8.16. Initially I was to fly Bangkok to Samarkand on Uzbekistan Airlines, a MUCH shorter trip, but after ticket purchase the airline called saying that I would need to reduce the bike box to 3 feet square, as otherwise it wouldn't fit on the plane. Besides the obvious impossibility of reducing the bike size, even with wheels off, the frame was too big, my first thought was how small is the plane!! I cancelled my ticket and made arrangements with Turkish Airlines.

Unfortunately became wedded to idea of starting in Samarkand. Perhaps should have rethought to start in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Obtaining the visa most likely would have been straight forward and travel have been more direct and perhaps easier. More on this to follow!!

I am keen to start - new sites, new adventures.

Reread my last few days of the Silk Route 2014. Perhaps I should have read those before booking this trip, only joking!

Speaking with Frosty and Brian, adventurers from the last ride, their advice was to take the days at a slower pace, enjoy stops at the tea rooms and conversation with the friendly locals, sage advice which I hope to follow! sage advice which I hope I follow.

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Comments

[Annette]

Safe cycling Roger. Look forward to reading the updates. Annette Brett Mia Ana and Bella xxxxx

[Cathy May]

Good luck!
Good luck, safe travels and have fun! :) x

[BKKCYCLIST]

On again then off bike ride
My bike, camping gear and bike parts have been lost by airline. Now in Samarkand due to start riding Friday. If no bike may need to call it quits, as no chance of buying replacements here in fast time. It might be over before it began. More to follow. Cheers R