Koshan - Esfahan

Day 93-95

After a quick shop and a bowl of soup for an early lunch (that is given to us by the restrurant owner, so kind) we head out of town, hoping to buy petrol on the way. On the outskirts of town a French cyclist, Jeff catches up to us and now we are three. He is heading to Esfahan as well. 

We cycle on through a very brown, dry landscape. It is hot. Jeff's bicycle computer reads 39 degrees. I am sweltering in my long pants and long shirt/dress. A car stops at the top of a hill and offers us a drink, we can choose water or wine. Wine in this heat, cycling? I take the water. 

We ride past a nuclear power plant, our passport gets checked twice, the second time by no less than six police/ military personnel. 

By the time it is nearly dark we still havnt found petrol for our stoves and have only just enough water to last us a night and get to the next town. We set up camp under some trees and cook over a little fire. 

By 8.30 the next morning sweat is dripping into my eyes, dragging my freshly applied sunscreen with it. We slog uphill and arrive in Natanz, stocking up on petrol and grabbing some more veges. 

The days riding is fairly unexciting, hot, mainly uphill, occasional head wind. We have a two hour lunch/snooze break at a servo.  In the evening we enjoy a beautiful sunset from our campsite, drinking tea. 

The previous days climbing pays off today and we make fast progress to Eafahan. We reach the main highway and manage to avoid being hit by trucks and taxis to make it to the edge of town for an early lunch, 1130 and 75km under the belt already. 

We make our way across town, through city traffic madness as reach our next couch surfing hosts house. The afternoon is spent catching up in emails and relaxing. 

1/10 Koshan - just before Natanz: rode 72km, ODO 2717km

2/10 just before Natanz - a bit before Morchekort: rode 61km, ODO 2777km

3/10 a bit before Morchekort - Esfahan: rode 101km, ODO 2880