Set off 9.30
Sohbet keen to ride, but unfamiliar with bike.
During morning, both Sohbet & Murat, so they tell me good-naturedly later, try cycling about 5km.
4-6 lane highway. Good surface. No hard shoulder. Few cars, very few lorries.
Slight ascent out of Turkmenbashi
Then flat
At about km15, 170m ascent over 4 kms
Then flat
South-to-north crosswind rather than headwind.
Around 30°C most of the day. Dry heat.
Almost featureless desert and desert scrub. Grasses & bushes yellow-green. No sign of Spring showers. No birdlife.
Mostly no human habitation – though a couple of times a gathering of single storey dwellings (villages?). What on earth do the inhabitants do for a living?
Thought it would be 80km ride, so caned it (and brought own 40km best time down to 70 mins)
At 80km coffee & ice-cream stop – Sohbet announced 70km more, through to Balkanabat.
Thankfully still flat, but as highway turns towards South-East, so cross-wind becomes head-wind.
Sand blowing onto road causes occasional small drifts. Hit the first one at speed, slid – and nearly went flying.
Not a single sign of agriculture or livestock the entire day.
Last 10km before Balkanabat, more traffic, more buildings.
Just before Balkanabat, 4 or 5 motley single-humped camel graze the paltry grasses.
Balkanabat apparently prosperous. Modern trophy buildings for library, hospital, theatre, wedding venue.