Darsheeva (Turkmenistan) to Khiva (Uzbekistan)

Oops! fell off this morning, well more fell over, I forgot these grassy hillock things in the desert are not designed to be ridden over, I managed to get the rear wheel stuck on one gave it a few revs and the thing slipped sideways in the sand and I couldn't hold it up. Ah well that's the first one over with if they're all as benign as that I'll count myself lucky. The ride was so boring the border was a relief, 200 miles at 55 mph, I was riding at the back so I could see the boys drifting as they lost concentration. This was the stretch that Kevin fell asleep on last year so I followed a stop and catch up philosophy to keep awake. The usual at the border loads of shouting forms in duplicate and four hours waiting around; still the Uzbeks like a laugh and once you realise shouting is the way it's done it can be quite funny. Out for a traditional Uzbek meal in the evening; not bad but I'm not sure how traditional a meat pasta is, call me cynical but it sounds more like a "tuned" traditional Uzbek meal.