Stage 98: From Tashkent to Angren

After about three weeks of rest from cycling, I got back on my bike on April 28th. From Tashkent, my route was heading east towards the Ferghana Valley, which is shared by Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The first stage started out flat, and after 30 kilometers, the first ascent slowly began. Along the way, I was approached by Mohammed, an Uzbek who spoke broken English. When he heard about my route, he explained that he lived near Andijan in the Ferghana Valley and would be happy to invite me. So, we exchanged numbers, you never know! Passing by stands selling strawberries and odd drinks, I continued riding through small villages until I reached Angren for a fast-food dinner. I had imagined it would be easier to find a place to camp near the town. There were a few coal mines and factories there, so I had to ride a bit further and eventually camped on a somewhat protected meadow near the main road. Thanks to the physical exertion, I slept really well.