Day 106

 

Departing Marand

Frosty Morning....Yeah.....go on you can say it..... We are pretty tough men!!

www.dangerhere.com - Iranian drivers are pretty inconsiderate to us cyclists

From opening drivers doors without the faintest of looks to blatently pulling out in front of us, we have seen it all right before our eyes on these Iranian roads. The concept of wingmirror and rearview aids have not really caught on here at all...Unscathed, we proceed as steely as ever towards Turkey.

A Winter wonderland

Herding the animals down from the snowy hills

A common utility vehicle in these parts... These guys always always cheer us on and wave...

Freezing cold and nothing but an endless array of straight roads in our path...Burrrrr!!!!!

Self Potrait from Brian...Paul and Mike taking up the rear

Layered up to beat the harsh elements...

Yes we are still in Iran - Disputed Territory...touchy subject in these parts

Puncture time...Luckily the sun is out....

Can you spot the face in the mountain

The spirits are high, the hills even higher!

Brian and Mike's video diary

Northern Iran is teaming with alll sorts of cool flora and fauna. You just got to be fairly observant and seize a good picture oppurtunity when you can...Check out some from Mike today....

Very hard to get a pic of these guys.An Iranian eagle

These hundred year old settlements bend/stagger into the Iranian hills

A bunch of caterpillers near the roadside

Mother and father work while the young lads play..

Look very closely at the two towers either side of The Mosque

Clever gal - Perched well out of harms way...

Centre monument of the town.Another fine home for this bird

Below Mike and Brians accommodation for the night.Jalil's tea house

Locals glued to the tv,watching their favourite show.

Morning tea anyone

Jalil.A great host and makes a fine cup of tea

The end of Paul's Day and Night

Ok, At this point. Paul was wondering where in the hell Mike and Brian went. He waited and waited, leaving some crude chalk markings on the road i.e. (Paul ere, 2:25pm - gone ahead). When he reached the cross-roads going to Khoy and Bazargan, he decided to wait another 30 mins. Once this elapsed, he gave the Police (at that inter-section) a note to give to the boys when they arrived saying "I went down into Khoy' (a town about 15km away). He cycled into Khoy to look for some accomodation for the night...

A donkey looking pretty forlorn...(Do all donkeys look sad?)...

Little Rascals - These youngsters ran over when I stopped for a quick breather...

Tillage (incl clever irrigation) in Iran...Pictured with farmer sowing crops

There is always a focal piece (such as this one) when entering any Iranian town or city...

Watermelons galore....Iran is full of this type of fruit...Delicious too!!!!

Dont look any further Paulo....Im your Iranian Uncle Mohammad....

When Paul entered Khoy (minus Brian and Mike), he decided to search for lodgings...His luck took a serious meander for the better when he bumped into a chemical engineer named Mohammad Fayazi. He sorted him out with a class double room in the cosy (He actually gave him 100 Iranian rials in cash....about $10).....Hotel Amir. What a gesture right towards the end of what has been an incredible tour in Iran....Thanks again Mohammad....Keep in touch..

Barber Shop - Fancy a chop?

Whilst in Khoy, Paul passed a nifty little barber shop and was invited in for some tea, bread and cheese....While there, he seriously pondered whether or not to shed some of his wigage....Decisions....decisions!!!!!!!!!

Members from The Khoy Barber Shop Quartet......"The Misfits" Ha ha!!!!

To cut a long story short (you get it!!!...quality pun(s) in that!!!), he got a free beard and hair trim....and headed back to my free hotel bedroom for the night. Not a bad days work at all. Still no sight of the Brian and Mike though....Pretty sure they are fine...Ok...Hopefully there's Champions League in this gaff!!!!

Lord Paul Anthony John Ryan's free living quarters in Khoy....Cosytown....