Kyrgyzstan Photos

Kyrgyzstan was an amazing place and quite a refreshing change from Kazakhstan. We immediately encountered change from the minute we crossed the border in the middle of a blizzard to the friendly locals who helped us out in Osh. Kyrgyzstan offered up dramatic mountain scenery and friendly faces. Kyrgyzstan was also where we met up with the expedition members of Trabant Trek. We had been exchanging information about overland travel with the Trabank guys for several months and Kyrgyzstan happen to be where our paths ultimately crossed… the Trabant guys were headed east on their way to Cambodian in old, Russian plastic cars and we were headed west towards Europe.

Apparently Bouey has already lost his mindIn Bishkek, we meet up with the boys and one girl from Trabant TrekThe Trabant guys were a little more worried about the road surface conditions than we wereWe had been exchanging information about road conditions and how to get into China – they were heading east and we werHey John, I might total your Trabant if I open my door too fastLittle Pepe looking really large next to the old Russian TrabantThese guys are driving all the way from Europe to Cambodia in these carsSteve starting to loose his mind a little over route planningIt does not look like much, but Yak Tours guesthouse in Karakol was just what we neededWe always seem to pick up new TWBR mascots along the way and this little guy wanted to come with us tooHome sweet home for a few daysHome sweet home for a few daysSergei even built a sauna at the guesthouse which hit the spotThe family atmosphere of the guesthouse was nice and relaxingAn old Citroen at the guesthouseSergei had quite the collection of old Russian jeepsSergei is also a bit of a gear head himselfSergei runs the guesthouse and invited us to have dinner with his family It was the first time we had seen snow like this and the Tundra plowed right through itLittle did we know the border crossing between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan was on the ice planet HothWe made quick friends in Kyrgyzstan after helping numerous cars that had gone of the roadSetting up camp wasn’t too badThose goats are getting dust in our pancake mixJust another morning wakeup call in KyrgyzstanOnce the stampede was over it was time to go back to bedKyrgyzstan offered up some great campsitesThe countless mountain ranges in Kyrgyzstan are a nice backdrop while cooking breakfastLoading up for another day on the roadWho knows, Osama might be out there somewhereWinding our way through the mountain valleys of KyrgyzstanAnother TWBR sunset on another lonely road in the middle of nowhereSometimes it looks like we actually know what we are doingIf you have seen one mountain pass, you have seen them all, unless you are in KyrgyzstanBouey supervising Karie in setting up camp