Stage 126: From Kenen back to Bishkek

Today's stage was my last in Asia for an indefinite period of time. Thanks to the good preparation the day before, it was only about 80 kilometers to the Kyrgyz capital. There was still a small pass to conquer, but nothing too challenging. During a small lunch break in Alga, I had to change my tube for the first time! I had broken the valve while pumping, so technically I still didn't have a flat tire. I used my last spare tube, the other one I had given to Aman. But I was almost back in Germany, so what could go wrong!

In the afternoon, I was once again at the border of Kyrgyzstan. The crossing was not comparable to the fun I had in Kegen. It was crowded, and there was no agreement on how to deal with cyclists. I first stood in line with the pedestrians but was sent to the cars by the officer. There, I was sent away again and told to join the pedestrians. A bit annoyed, I returned to the first officer. When he tried to send me away again, I interrupted him and made it clear that this wouldn't lead to anything and that I had to pass through here. So, all the bags were unstrapped again and sent through the scanner. He asked me if I had a knife with me. With the answer: 'Yes, two, and gasoline too,' he was not expecting that and seemed overwhelmed. I was allowed to keep everything, and he still let me through, probably because he didn't feel like working. The actually annoying part came next. The border crossing was not designed for bicycles, there were several turnstiles. That meant every time I had to unstrap all the bags, lift the bike over the turnstile, and load everything again. A lot of fun, especially with pushy and impatient locals! It took almost 1.5 hours until I was finally back in Kyrgyzstan. Since I liked the hostel last time, I checked in there again. The friendly host offered to help me find a bike box for the flight. She made some phone calls and finally found a bike shop where I got a box for the equivalent of 1.50€ on the same day. After that, we cooked together and chatted with the Russian residents who I already knew from my first stay.

The next day, it was finally time for sightseeing in the city. Since the hostel was a bit outside, I hadn't seen anything of the center so far. I walked for what felt like an eternity, although the major sights are close together. The Victory Square, Panfilov Park, and of course Ala-Too Square are worth a visit. Several large museums and theaters are also located in this district. Overall, Bishkek has many well-restored or new buildings to offer and is very clean. It is clear that a large part of Kyrgyz wealth flows into the capital. In addition to sightseeing, I also bought a few things for the return flight, such as tape. I also managed to break the second valve while dismantling my bike, so I wouldn't have been able to continue from Frankfurt. Getting a replacement in Bishkek was not easy. I asked at several bike shops until I had success at the bazaar. Who would have thought that a small shop in the middle of the bazaar would have a better selection than the bike shops? Storing the bike in the box was much harder this time. The box belonged to a youth bike, so this time everything really had to be dismantled.

The last day in Asia arrived for me. I managed to book a day trip through the hostel and even found a companion from Israel, Ilan. We were dropped off by the husband of our host at Ala-Archa National Park. We hiked and picnicked for about three hours in the best weather. In the afternoon, I still had plenty of time to pack, and in the evening, Ilan and I took a taxi to a pub where we enjoyed a few beers for trip preparation. Around 10 pm, the father of our host drove me to the airport. He was visibly happy to be able to practice English again and was very entertaining. Of course, I arrived at the airport way too early but wanted to make sure with my bike box. Again, it had to be checked whether I had already paid for the bike. Finally, at half past two in the morning, I set off towards Istanbul and from there to Frankfurt. I was very excited about a few weeks off from cycling and the time with my family and Laura. Only at the end of July, I was planning a leisurely final tour in Europe!