At 8.30 am we are ready to leave and sure enough, the Levies are on time. Without the Vespa riders it goes fast and at the switch points of the Levies the next ones are usually ready to take over. That's how it goes well!
The landscape is really breathtakingly beautiful with enormous panoramic views, perpendicular endless roads and pointed mountains that lie behind each other in various shades of gray. The Levies are all very nice and several times we have to take pictures on and next to the bikes and we are even allowed to have our picture taken with the machine gun.
I ask one of the Levies how long it has been since he fired his gun and he tells me it was 14 years ago during his training. So it's okay with that threat. Today we have many changes of guidance along the way. I think it's been like 20 times. And every time check all papers, take pictures, etc.
We would like to arrive somewhere before dark, but that is not going to work. We've already driven through the dark for an hour when we stop at the side of the road in the middle of the desert. Another switch we thought, but the Levies casually tell us that this is the end of their region and that we can drive on to the next police station. no way! So we're not going to do that, because we don't know where it is or whether we're expected there.
We refuse to leave and point out that they are responsible for our safety and cannot just leave us behind. That helps. We can also drive back with them to the previous office. We also refuse that. We certainly didn't drive through the dark for an hour for nothing! And trust me, driving here in the dark is really an adventure.
Eventually someone from the next station picks us up with a normal car and takes us to the next police station where we arrive in the dark. And it stays dark because it is an empty building. The Vespa drivers have also just arrived here. There is no electricity, no water and at the back is a large barrel with a tap from which we can get water. Fortunately we have enough food and drink with us and we eat together with three policemen, on the ground with bare hands. There is no showering today and if you want to flush the toilet you first have to get a bucket of water outside. It's all so basic that it reminds me of the time at Scouting. Fortunately there are some mats in the large empty spaces where we can put our air mattresses and sleeping bags and we all sleep well.
Wonderful trip. I think you're missing eyes.
Is everything all right? Enough gas, money, food, etc?
Drive carefully.
Thank you! For now everything is going fine. Indeed a lot of impressions and now and then it is nice not to travel for a few days, like now in Islamabad. Tomorrow again. Petrol is not always of very good quality, but it is readily available everywhere. The longest stretch without a pump so far was 300 km. I knew that getting money in Iran and Pakistan is not possible, so I have enough cash with me to exchange. Food is available on every street corner. And good! Although I would like to eat some more vegetables, but oh well, will come back to India. grs!