May 25th - Pamir 1st part...

Last night was not too bad, home stay family gave us a good hospitality. Happy to sleep between 4 walls and a roof, especially with negative temperatures and strong winds.

Today we are targeting Mungrah village and we heard they have some fuel (Youpiiiiii)…140Km to ride.

We asked around last night and the only fuel available is SP80 which is not for us. SO today problem will be how to reach our destination with a 3/4 Kawasaki tank and 1/4 for the Benelli. We started by transfering 5 liters in the Benelli and start our daily ride.

Roads became soon a nightmare, no more asphalt and riding temperature super super mega giga low…We cannot feel our fingers and feet anymore (we tired the newspaper technics but it did not work)…Windy, snowing, uphill never stop and we reached 4600 meters with difficulty . At this altitude the Benelli has no choice than running on 1st gear at 10km/h (with the fuel pipe problem seems the mix fuel and air is not good and the bike does not run well anymore)…

Half way, engine stopped and fuel leaking again…Seems bad luck is with us these few last days. The fuel pipe was out of the tube again and we re-insert it plus tight it as more as we can.

We are riding on fuel reserve and the next gas station is 65km away, no way we can make it…At the top of the pass, the luck shows up and we met 2 Italians with their Subaru traveling to Mongolia and guess what they were kind enough to give us some fuel…You guys rocks! thanks again and good luck to you. 

The way down was a bit better with some asphalt and we crossed 2 french guys riding bicycle from Brittany to Beijing who gave us few tips about riding conditions until Dushanbe. We finally made it to Mungragh where we found an Hotel (at least cold shower). We parked the bikes and went straight away to the Bazar to see if we can find some new fuel pipe. Unfortunately nothing, just a crappy Lada shop. Tomorrow will be a challenging day ! Until when the MacGyver fuel pipe we made will last ?! I just wish it can last until Dushanbe (few more days) where normally i should receive some spare parts kindly send by my lovely girlfriend from Shanghai.