We headed down hill towards Toktogul
We were headed towards Sary-Chelek Reserve.
Alas, we finally found the reserve website saying "camping is not allowed".
We need quite a few days so will head east to Song-Kol instead.
And some sort of military post that we didn't photograph.
Our route will hopefully take us north east through those mountains.
Flowing into the lake is the Naryn River. There's another reservoir further east.
Naryn (town), on the river, even further east. We will pass through it on our way to China.
The Naryn River continues beyond the lake, through the Fergana Valley, and is a major source for the Syr Darya.
The gravel road looks good.
Some small corrugations but no potholes.
As the crow flies its about 100km almost due east to the A367. The long way round on good roads is about twice that.
The last village for quite a while.
About 95 km of gravel road as the crow flies.
The route is contorted and twisty.
We seem to have crossed from river valley to river valley a couple of times.
Apparently apples originated in Kazakhstan.
In Soviet collective times hay making was mechanised.
This is the first bailer we've seen.
The major Soviet factory for hay bailers was in Kyrgizstan but is no longer operating.
Fortunately we have mobile phone reception here.
We consulted the map in detail.
The main road, the by-pass, is to the left.
Though I guess going through the village would get to the bridge at the other end!
The track deteriorated. Narrower, clinging to the side of the mountain. A second gear plod up a very long hill avoiding ruts.
Its not as tiring as Kazakhstan.
Its a steady plod at an even pace rather than the bone jarring potholes and other obstacles needing frequent speed and gear changes.
At the reservoir we'd seen corn and melons. Then the hay making as we climbed. Then the herds further up still.
Horses, cattle, plus sheep and goats.
