076 to Safashar 4.10.2018

often I am to nervous to wait until thee camera is ready. result: blurred images….

Around 8, Ali arrived at the office. Again, he brought something to eat and prepared breakfast for both of us. Then came a friend of his and they started talking, so I tried to find a good moment to say good bye.

At a kind of toll house an officer stopped me for some Smalltalk and selfies. A group of women approached and wanted to sell me a book. They selected one with Farsi-English translations and I thought, maybe they are from a welfare organization as they were dressed all in a kind of uniform. So, I bought the book and hoped it could be of use for someone.

I only was driving for maybe an hour, to Surmarq, where an elder man stopped me and mimed inviting me to eat. He was so friendly and so I said yes, thank you. The problem was, that it was 10:30 and later I realized that he had meant I should stay for lunch. We could not communicate to well, but he understood that I would leave soon after lunch.

I short while after leaving this man (and his wife who had cooked and parallel had done the laundry) a car stopped (I should make a shortcut for “a car stopped”) and it was the officer, who was so happy to meet me again ? Farshad is doctor for vetenerian medicine and now works as a soldier, as he said, and at home, they have a farm growing tomatoes and peaches etc, and he would like to invite me for a stay. We exchanged whatsapp numbers and I said that I am not sure how to organize it but will know tomorrow.
The sky became cloudy and darker

and when the road lead uphill it started to rain! In this situation a minibus stopped and out came those Germans I had met on the pigeon’s tower with there friend and tour guide.

The road didn’t stop going uphill although I thought it would at 2300 or 2400, but in the end it was 2549, more than Meghri pass, a new record for me. Btw., the record in going straight now is 132km (but I didn’t the complete 132 today).

I wondered why the cars went so slow downhill, but then I heard a crash and one of these blue transporters stood crosswise on the street. On top,

highest point I ever reached with my bike (but only a few 100 heightmeters from the start)

there was a damaged bus and one of the tourists told me, another transporter had crushed into the bus and then turned to the side. I had seen this transporter, too. No one had been injured as far as I had been informed by this Norwegian man.
After the pass, the street most of the time was going downhill until Safa Shahir. Another record: I went 54,5km/h for a short while.
When I was near Massouds home, a man waved and shouted, so I thought it could be he. But it was just a funny guy, who wanted to help me with anything, from tea or water to WC. In the end he called Massoud when I showed him the whatsapp dialogue to explain that someone was waiting for me.
Massoud came and we went to his home. His son, Farbod (3) was sleeping at that time. But when he awoke, he was not afraid, maybe surprised to see me, but smiled.
Later, a neighbour arrived with her son Hossein (6). For the next few hours the boys played nice and peacefully.

Massoud’s wife and the neighbour had prepared dinner for hours and it looked and tasted great.

I was allowed (or nobody forbid the stranger) to help the boys and Massoud bringing the things back to the kitchen.
Hossein and his mother left at 10p.m. Farbod cried but Massoud played nicely with him and Farbod could calm down.