Rest Day. 11/11. Monday. July 11.

Rest Day.  11/11.       Karakol.

My last Rest Day on this trip. Next Rest Day will be in Grantstown!!

Lovely breakfast inside or on balcony in this hotel billed as ’the best in town’. And justified by what I’ve seen about.

All bikes attended to, cleaned and oiled. Mine has performed like a horse considering the conditions thrown at it. It deserves a good rest also back in Tipp.

Speaking of Tipp, I tuned in to live updates from the Gaelic Grounds for the first half. Wasn't extremely confident for the following 35 mins. Late so I retired but woke at 2.30 am and pleasantly surprised to read the final score. Be back for the semi-final. Might be against Wexford!

With town being spread out, I took the bike to visit a few spots. First dropped up to the nearby Holy Trinity Cathedral, a wooden structure and its green towers topped by ’gold’ onion domes. The original was destroyed by earthquake in 1890. This one built on the same foundations. Turned into a club by the Soviets but church services resumed after 1991. The 1930 pastor had removed and stored the statues and icons that now adorn it.

Badly needed a trip to the beauty parlour for a trim but all the gossip in the salon was lost on me due to language difficulties. But didn't cost too much; 3 euro covered the job including a 30% tip. Might suggest this pricing system to my local barber!

Back on the bike and finally located the Dungan Mosque, remarkable in that it is the only bit of Chinese architecture in Kyrgyzstan (a Beijing architect in 1904) and has the semblance of a Buddhist temple with its triple roof and delicately carved eaves. During Soviet occupation all other 8 mosques were destroyed; this one was just closed for business during that period.

While I was there, the young man in black T-shirt (centre) was chanting the call to prayer broadcast from the rather unusual minaret outside.

Presently, Karakol is a hub for trekking expeditions into the mountains and white mini-buses line the streets. In one article it's described as a rough jewel waiting for a master to polish it to achieve its full potential. He could start with the approach roads for certain. Generally traffic in town can be hectic and un-streamlined. Possibly the same motorists that passed me on the way in yesterday afternoon.

Karakol grew up as a support town for a nearby garrison and some original Russian colonial buildings of 1870. Common characteristics are the shuttered windows and all in shades from strong blue to marine green - predominant colours in all these stars.

Parked the bike up at Mustafa’s Bistro (recommended in tour guides) but had to order from the pictures outside. I wasn't disappointed with my choice either...nourishing; and no alcohol being an Islamic establishment.

Dropped into a large park, Park Pobedy, near the hotel but couldn't get details. Seems like a monument to freedom and the black wall around was inscribed with up to 2000 names.

Back at base now and all is packed for the final stint. On the board it looks daunting in distance, climbing and road conditions.....and seven days non-stop too. But if Tipp can do it, I can do it.

Thank God for a lovely day.