23-Apr-2005 -- The taxi driver decided that he would take me to the next point but spent most of the journey fussing about whether he had enough gas. As it happened the car was rented and he only puts in as much as he thinks he will need. Anyway we made gentle progress westwards and, after finding some LPG at Kattakurgan, we turned north off the main road to Bukhara to find the CP. This lies close to the Karadarya River in an area of rich farmland growing wheat and cotton (like most of the irrigable land of Uzbekistan). We got to within 1.25 km of the point and then 2 farmers told us that the road we were on went no further. We should not have listened – it went to within 300 metres of the CP. Instead I walked the 2.5km round trip across one recently planted cotton field and then across a channel to a small wheat field. The wheat was tall and healthy and just coming into ear. I hope I did not do too much damage to the crop; fortunately the furrow irrigation had not been used for a few days so I was able to step in the furrows.

I took the pictures without too much delay in case an irate farmer appeared.

Two points done and only 2:30 – I was ready to try for a third 40N 65E. The taxi driver was not and wanted to return to Samarkand. We parted company in Kattakurgan where I took a second taxi.