Georgia - Kutaisi B/C, Kazbegi, Gori (Hotel Intourist),

Sorry about the long delay as we are going through Central Asia and getting online for blogging is really a monumentous task. We are currently at Bishkek and possibly the last chance to catch up with emails and blogs before we get into the bush again. Going into China via XinJiang in about 7 days.

Anyway, see what I can do with this short post which gives some photos from Kutaisi, Kazbegi and Gori. Also, to let everyone know we are still alive and doing well.

Photo of me sitting in Stalin's seat in his personalised bullet-proof Rail wagon. This is a Stalin Museum in Gori (Georgia) where he was borned.

The monastary/church ground where David the Builder (a legent in Georgia) is buried. the spring water is said to have healing effect.

Bush camp outside Kutaisi at the national park. not far for this park is a cave and remains of dinasours footprints.

Sorry about this short blog as time is pressing on. Will catch up when we get to China - hopefully wi-fi is more common over there. This is just to say everything is running well and we are enjoying the trip very much and loving every minute of it.

until next time.......

Georgia - Mestia, Ushguli

A small group of us made it to The Cross on top of Mestia. We went a bit further up to the small lake (all frozen of course).


Some picture taken in Ushguli - a remote village, unspoilt by tourist. Like Mestia, Ushguli has many 'Protection Towers' concentrated in a small village. The white mountain behind Ushguli is Mt Shkhara (5069m) the tallest peak in Georgia. Georgia's Caucasus has several peaks just above 5000m.



Making breakfast at a bushcamp just down from Mestia (on the way back down from the high mountains).




The roads are so rugged that getting off the vans and push is not unexpected. Picture take while coming back down from Ushguli.















Picture of Mt Shkhara (5068m) taken just outside Ushguli.





Some pictures taken while on route to Mestia. The route was most picturesque, breathtaking. Steep ravines in certain places.




Picture of a one of two roof seat on Calypso. Fellow travellers braved the cold for the unbelievable scenery.

Georgia - Black Sea coast

Hey, after one of the most inefficient border cross, we are in Georgia - the country recently at war with Russia and the mother of wine making.

Our accommodation in Batumi ..... The Old Ship Hotel - the replical or the real Endeavour??? After Sumelas Camping, I don't think anyone would complain ever again about camping sites. No, just joking. It was really a very nice hotel converted from an old fishing boat. All rooms had an ensuite. Some rooms were exceptionally large for a boat. This Odyssey Overland is really a great trip for advanturers. We try all sorts... well, almost all sorts.

Tim and Zaza just sitting to admire the Old Ship Hotel. And Tim, the puppy is not allowed to come onboard.

A picture of our room on the old boat hotel.

Had a lovely dinner with Le in a one of the local fish restaurants. If you are a fish lover, Black Sea coast is where you want to be.

A bit of sea breeze and sunshine would get friendship going in among fellow travellers who were strangers a few weeks earlier.

Turkey - BlackSea coast

Pls view the pictures in reverse order, chronologically speaking.

Left the bush camp at the Zara reservoir and travel up Egribel Pass (2220m). Stopped to stretch legs and for smokers at the Pass. Like on top of the world.

More rocks along the way and willing hands to smoothen the path for Calypso.

Got over the Pass and had lunch by the Black Sea side - Richard taking the chance to soak up the sun.

Best affordable camp site was Sumelas Camping. It was cold and miserable and the camp site had only one toilet for male and one for female. It rained and the toilet leaked badly - you would need to have an umbralla while sitting on the throne (squat, in the female's toilet). The bridge into the camp side looked very dodgy. We need to get out of Calypso while Tim manoeuvre her over across the bridge whilst Cheryl gave direction.

Picture of Sumela Monastery - the most photographed building along the Black Sea coast. Turkey often used picture of this monastery in their travel brochures. Good scenery on the way up to this mystical building.

Turkey - en route

Hello.... I think a I'd do a post with special dedication to Calypso, our beloved truck-cum-bus, our dependency, Odysseus' mistress, etc. Oh... what can't you do for us?

Found a lovely spot for bush camp - right by the new reservoir not far up the mountain from Zara. The ground looked firm enough, but once Calypso broke through the crust on top, it just sunk into the uncompressed construction mud. The dam/reservoir is still under construction.

Meantime, Calypso appeared to be sinking deeper into the uncompressed mud below the thin crust which fooled us. We have very good crew and fellow travellers. We heaved, pushed, dug and caressed Calypso to encourage her to give us the impossible - to float out of the quagmire.

Robin managed to "converse" with a local farmer and help was on the way.

The large front-end loader did come to the rescue and got her back onto reasonable firm grounds again.

I know this is supposed to be dedicated to Calypso and her tenacity, but I will just mention the camping spot. One would not want to go pass this lovely spot with a view of the lake and snow covered hills in the distance. Beautiful reflection in the morning.

Be aware, to follow the story logically, the photos should be viewed in reversed order.