Feeling
a little better after a good nights sleep. Our morning was
interrupted by the ranger returning to say he wanted to lock the
gates. So we packed and left to find the park office. Where the office is
situated, and with no signposts, we would have missed it yesterday even
if we had come in the front gate!.
A lady, Elana, was there from Urgench. She works with an German NGO to help with the training and management of protected areas. She had very good English so we learnt quiet a bit of the history and the struggles they are having with different government departments and others that feel they have a vested interest.
We
also found out that if one of the other guys had found us first it
would have been a US$400 fine. Ouch! Even though there are no signs indicating no entry.
We
made use of the dried up fountains surrounds to stand on to replace
the sticky tape under the roof seal rubber. It had let go in a couple
of places.
We
moved on and found diesel at a gas station listed on caravanistan.
Took on board 50 litres. Mostly
full. The guy ensured us that there was diesel available up at the
end of the desert track so we may go that way in a few days.
I took this for Nevil and wondered when he last used a hay baler of this vintage.
At Beruniy we stopped and did a small fruit shop and had a good lunch in a small restaurant.
At Beruniy we stopped and did a small fruit shop and had a good lunch in a small restaurant.
I have been amazed that in these last few countries there are shops full of wedding gowns even in towns that seldom are big enough for other shops. Today I finally got to see one being worn! The bride had to walkover dirt to get to the grand registration building.
We drove
towards Urgench and camped on the Amuadaryo River NE of the bridge.
We did not have internet so finally shifted 100 up onto the break
water. Good internet.
Some how it was after 11pm when we showered and climbed into bed.
69km