The 1st try to get to the Pamirs

A lot has happened since the last entry....On the 21st I left Dushanbe to drive to Khorog, the village that is the gateway to the high Pamir's...

Just at that day there was a shooting incident between police and some supposed drug smugglers, which left several people dead and the entire area was closed for foreigners... I was devastated. Different sources of information suggested that after a few days it might be ok again so I took my time and was roaming around in the mountains. However on the 24th I was turned away about 200 km before Khorog, no way to enter as there was another shooting on that day again... with my tail between the legs and quite frustrated I returned to Dushanbe where I could stay at Alices and Seb's place again, which was great as they had some contacts and info on the evolving situation. Thanks guys for your hospitality and lending me your driveway for some truck servicing :-).

On the 29th of May was my drop dead date to either try it again or go via the North around the Pamirs. That morning I contacted several parties in Khorog itself and they indicated that some tourists were back in town again.... so I went off for the second try...