The second phase of the Caucasus ascension was much harder and steeper than the first one. After a morning swim and some time spent enjoying the camping area, we got back on the road and rapidly gained altitude. A group of italian cyclists told us it would be really hard for us, loaded as we are, to get to the top of the mountain, which was about 2000 meters high, main problem being the state of the ‘road’, a mix of rocks and sand after the city of Khulo. It went indeed smoothly up to that point, even if the road is somehow dangerous -narrow with big cliffs ; and started getting really steep already few kilometers before Khulo. We climbed that part under the midday sun and arrived in town pretty exhausted, aware this was just the beginning of the fight. 🙂
We filled our tanks with soup, meat and bread, rested for a bit, then hit to road at about 3PM. Straight after the town, the road downgraded to a steep path of sand, earth, dust and rocks. The conditions didn’t improve for the next 20 kilometers, which were among the hardest, if not the hardest, that we’ve cycled so far.
Kerosene
Steep one
Getting there, slowly but surely
Gaining elevation
Chocolate stop on the way
We arrived at the top of the mountain for the sunset, with magical views over the valleys. It was right on time before the only shop miles around closed, and we bought noodles and beer to celebrate our physical achievement. We were above 2000 meters high, it was cold and we could see the eternal snow closeby. We asked Guguli, the owner of the shop, if there was a warm place to sleep in the area. There wasn’t, but she offered us to stay in her house, with her 13 year old grandson. We obviously felt very grateful to not have to spend the night outside in the cold, and discovered with amazement the lifestyle of the family, from another era. The house was entirely warmed on the same wood fire used for cooking ; they were eating only homemade natural products : milk, cheese, cream, bread, and various types of conserved vegetables. The water they used was taken directly from the source (no showers and that sort of things), and the toilet was just an elevated platform where the stuff felt directly into a compost (no paper, just water). It feels like a great way to live at this time of the year, but it is probably a much tougher lifestyle during the winter, when they have to deal with the 3 meters of snow they usually get.
Anyway…we quickly crashed in our beds after dinner.
Guguli, cooking for us
Morning view over the shop and the house we stayed in, in the background
Great stuff, keep going guys
oh, that hill did look tough. how neat you are documented this experience on a blog.
Looks like an amazing journey. Thanks for sharing your photos with us. Cheers, Tania
irunibreathe.wordpress.com
Wonderful blog and digital photos ! What did Guguli cook for you? http://www.segmation.wordpress.com
Beautiful pictures — LOVE the “chocolate stop” dude! 🙂
That looks like a fun adventure…and great photos!
Cheers!
Just read all your posts from the beginning and can’t wait for more! Great story, it is really good to read. Amazing photos. It could be a pretty nice book here!
Wow. What a wonderful adventure. I wish I was still young and able to do something like that. Enjoy!!!
you’re still young 😉
Reblogged this on Makais Blog and commented:
thanks for sharing
Very cool experience you had. Congrats on being freshly pressed.
How incredible and beautiful your journey is 🙂
Yay, Chocolate 🙂 Keep on riding!
Nice blog
Love the pics and good effort on the cycling! – makes me feel a bit inactive in my own adventures at the moment…
Beautiful pictures! x
Happy cycling, great posts 🙂
What a great journey! Rightly chosen for Freshly Pressed. Congratulations.
Hey, are you heading towards Armenia? If so, I guess I could host you if you need place to sleep or take shower. I will be away in the fisrt half of July, but after that no problem.
Unfortunatly we are not going through Armenia, but thanks by the way 😉
Oh, I see. If you’re going to visit Tbilisi, there are free city tours starting 2 PM from the Freedom square. If you’re interested, I can give you more details. Oh, and if you’ll get the chance, visit Uplistsikhe cave town in Georgia, it’s near the city of Gori! Nice place for camping, too 🙂
nice adventure
I wanna be in such adventure too. May be someday
awesome!
How lovely!! Would love to go on a trip like this actually.. Adventures are such a weakness. Thanks for documenting!
Very cool. Love the scenery! Sounds like a great adventure! Happy cycling (and totally digging the chocolate stop!!). Nice that you got to experience life with a family too! When I cycled across Canada, that is what stuck with me the most. I can’t imagine how wonderful the experience would be when far from home.
I did a similar hill in Boilvia! Keep it up 🙂
Fantastic journey. Thank you for sharing – I love that first picture, it’s very beautiful. Namaste, Joie
i really liked this,beautiful pictures to.
I am so ready for an adventure like that!!
…all I need now is to learn how to ride a bike 😉
well, I am sure I will one day 🙂
Great post!!
Wow,very inspiring. I may have to start riding a bike with these gas prices…(chuckle). Your blog photo is absolutely breathtaking. BTW- Great smiles guys.
starseeker777.wordpress.com
Reblogged this on What's For Dinner? and commented:
Something I came across on freshly pressed that sounded interesting
Looks very adventurous! Particularly love the first photo!
How fit you must be! I’m worn out just after one hour’s zumba. Fabulous adventure. Something to show the grandchildren. Thanks for sharing.
Such a great blog. Thanks guys for sharing your amazing journey 😀
Loving your journey. What a fantastic adventure.
Nice post..:-)
Reminds me of that day last year when we ended up on a gravel path so steep that it took two of us to push one bike up it. In the rain, and with gravel sliding under our feet… luckily only for a short way, though.
And that was just boring Italy – your journey sounds like a true adventure!
Wow! Just, wow.
Wow! What a great adventure! I love the story of your overnight stop….to experience real local life, fantastic! Thanks for sharing!
Great adventure, wonderful reading, beautiful pictures 🙂 Looking forward to new posts.
This is truly an inspiring story! That’s all I can say really.
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed AND making it up the road! Thanks for sharing your story and photo’s. It’s all good….
Very nice this. You are documenting other styles of life. I have just read your overnight at the top 2000 meters. I am sharing your blog blogging it over at mine. Now in Portuguese, from Brazil – Perfeito isto! Vocês estão descrevendo outros estilos de vida. Acabei de ler a noite dormida a 2000 metros. Estou redistribuindo a experiência de vocês
someday you and i will travel to the far side of the world
great adventure, great photos!
Wow, now that’s an experience! The Caucasus is a region I’m very interested in and I love the photos! Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
People who seek the real adventures, Georgia is waiting to you)))
Well done!
Excellent photography. How do you get more than one photo per post? I haven’t been able to figure that out yet.
One by one, click “insert to post”. Otherwise you can make a gallery to embwd a slideshow. Hope you cab make it!
This is so cool!! What a beautiful experience, I seriously love it!
Just discovered your site, great stuff. Long trips by bicycle are wonderful (hard, but the good stuff usually is) and filled with experiences unknown to those who haven’t done such a thing. Many years ago my wife and I did a 6 month tour through 9 countries and would not trade that experience for anything. Roll on.
Ah what a beautiful place and a unique experience. Well done for all that challenging physical work!
wow, i remember Italy, we went on a climbing trip on lake como and area, so cool, i really enjoy reading about your big adventure 🙂
sorry i know that is not Italy, but that road reminds me of that, very much so
We may pass by italy on the way back! Thanks for the tip about lake como 🙂
Sounds like an incredible trip! Bravo on making it up that hill!
The chocolates look inviting. Nice shots!
The Chocolate shop is calling! Beautiful pictures, Congratulations on your stamina!
This is an incredible journey on bike. I really appreciate how you are sharing the stories of the special people and their lives as you journey. Keep riding and keep blogging! This is amazing. 🙂
hmmm interesting…
Congratulation on being freshly pressed!
What a great wto explore eastern europe. Happy travels!
What a great adventure! Thanks for sharing!
Ánimo con el recorrido…
Thank u for sharing your nice pictures with us.
They all nice
Your adventure looks amazing!
Great FR, thanks for share 🙂
I was drawn to your post by the beautiful photo on Freshly Pressed and stayed ‘cos I love a cycling adventure.
It’s wonderful that people like Guguli are prepared to share the little they have with others … that kind of generosity and hospitality is so heartwarming and puts many of us living more materially comfortable lives to shame.
Great adventure! love the pictures
Love the pics!!
Beautiful photos, thanks for sharing them with us.
I don’t know how you guys do it though. Some of those hills look brutally steep just for walking, but trying to do it on a loaded bike! Be safe and enjoy!
http://dyefeltsool.com/
Beautiful photos 🙂 looks like it was enjoyable!!
it is always so nice to read bike adventures, it seemed that you guys had a bit of tough terrain on the way up there, but i bet that the ride was nice and rewarding. Also, i liked the way you described their way of living up there. Great post, keep them coming.
What a lovely blog. The stories and the picturs. Keep it up.
Amaziiiinngg !!
Thumbs up for having the courage to make such an adventure.
I would love to do such a thing one day..
Beautiful pictures, and background. Enjoyed reading (for the first time) about your journey.
Wish I had an adventurous spirit like you guys!
Inspiring. Enjoyable to read and great to see some real adventuring. Thank you
Reblogged this on Open Source Daily Source Code.
This looks awesome! What country is this? Thanks for sharing.
You Matter!. Smiles, Nancy
What a great adventure….love the blog and the pictures and the journey.
Reblogged this on Catskye's Blog and commented:
Pretty freakin’ amazing!!!
Interesting!
very interesting
This is awesome. Y’all keep at it!!!
Amazing adventure! Would love to have my own big bikes soon!!
It sure doesn’t sound like Georgia, but the adventure was awesome. Thanks for sharing.
Wow, what a journey. Looks amazing. Thanks for sharing.
I am planning to write an article about cycling in London during the Olympics. The plan is to go to a specialised shop selling cool gear and interviewing them followed by doing some cycling myself. I am really not a cycling expert so I would love to hear your opinions and tips! Thanks and enjoy cycling!
Sounds like a good idea, the thing is we are not either experts, so tell us what you would like to know.