The first challenge was a bodily need at 2 in the night. I am apparently not the bravest (the less at night!) so it had to be urgent to get me out the tent in the dark night with shadows, sounds movements and wind. And it was great to get back into the tent, still knowing that this is not that much protection except against the wind or rain.
In the morning it was a bit fresh and I hurried to get back to the road. I had a great mysterious view out of the tent with daybreak and a thin crescent moon, but whatever I tried (ok, i know only 10% of thee technical possibilites), it resisted to come into my camera.
But obviously I had kept one fine part of the climb for today. Maybe it was harder, because I was thirsty, too, but 2x I had to push the bike and I needed some extra breaks outside my 15min scheme.
But it took only 5min before the first car stopped and a man gave me an apple (I kept it for the peak-celebration-breakfast)
On top of the pass, I had a similar situation like yesterday. A car stopped, first came the father and tried to communicate with some English words, then he went back to the car to get his wife and daughter. The daughter made a similar interview like the girl yesterday and when she asked if I would need anything I admitted that I was out of water. First the gave me a cup of water and then filled one bottle. In the end they gave me some apples, too.
I was not only happy about this next example of hospitability, in this case I was glad about the water. The more as in the next few villages I didn’t get anything.
After 40+ km I found an open store, bought something to drink and eat and the owner gave me some candies in the bag (that I first had tried to refuse)
Well, suddenly the countryside was cut through by a highway, immediately it became city-like and loud and stinky. After 20km I was in the city of Tabriz, tried to buy a SIM-card, what was not successful although people tried to help me, as only with registration in the company head quartier it is possible.
On the way I saw lots of drums of every size. Nader later explained that there is the 10 days (+9 nights) festivity for that poor guy murdered some hundred years ago. People more or less succsessful try to mourn…
So, I finally stood in front of Nader’ parents’ apartment and tried to call him with my Austrian number, what didn’t work. I asked one of those boys who made shy circles around me if he would help me with his phone and soon after, Nader stand in front of me.
We went up and talked interrupted by his translation work or he worked interrupted by our conversation, we ate a great lunch (rice with diverse side dishes, prepared by his mother) and we waited for the family to return from a picnic outside.
When they came we had a friendly gathering, but then Nader and I left for a bike shop. The man there would have helped me the next day at 11 and so Nader suggested to visit his brother Naser, who is a barber. I regret that I can’t understand their language (Azeri, but it didn’t sound like Turkish, although people would understand each other), because just the parts that Nader translated were funny and they and some customers/friends laughed all the time.
Naser has a friend nearby who is bike mechanic. Naser suggested to go there and after that cut my hair. So we did. The friend told us where to buy the spare part and when we returned, he started repair and we went back to Naser. He made some variations of beard and finally removed it.
With my new head, we went back to get my new bike and went home.
There, everything was prepared for dinner and so we just sat down with the whole family and enjoyed. But then we had to leave to Maliheh and Mohammad’s apartment for the night.
night…. maybe I was just tired (I was!) or i tried to look at the screen and the camera at the same time but anyway I am surprised about the independence of my eyes.
