42. Stage 'Sarytash, Kyrgyzstan'

As planned, we crossed the border into Kyrgyzstan today. The road to the border was very good. However, that changed immediately before the first checkpoint on the Tajik side. From now on, the road got progressively worse. The Kyzyl-Art Pass, which connects the checkpoints on both sides, was simply barely drivable. I am baffled as to why this is not being fixed. The entire border crossing took us not even two hours, a new record. However, the Kyrgyz customs officer initially could not find me on his list, which is why he initially denied me entry. Only the precise indication of when I was added to that list resolved the issue. Upon arriving in Sarytash, we ended up in a guesthouse/restaurant where many tourists gather. On that day, a few motorcyclists and hikers also passed by. I myself was quite exhausted and relieved when we checked into our hotel. I spent the rest of the day in bed.