 and Ben’s last run of their trip and the first of ours. We stayed at a fairly delapidated holiday village where we made friends with some very drunk russian characters who were pretty keen to wrestle. In the end Rich obliged with an arm wrestle but wisely decided that discretion was the better part of valour and let the wookie win.

Saturday we drove up the Karatog river as far as Hakimi, scouting as we went. Having seen some of the very chossy, boulder choked rapids on the drive up, Ben decided not to paddle – probably a sensible decision as it turned out. The rest of us put on at Hakimi straight into some great gd3/4 read and run boulder gardens which lasted for about 4km. At that point we came to the first big drop which we all ran, with varying degrees of success, and soon after we hit the first of many portages.

The best way to describe the Karatog is lots of great drops and rapids interspersed with horrible boulder choked choss and not many eddies to get out at. We spent much of the rest of the day paddling and portaging and paddling and portaging.

Saturday evening we headed back to Dushanbe and had a night on the town Tajik style, an interesting experience bartering for drinks in a language you don’t speak and being charged extra in the night club for the privilege to sit down on the plastic seats, more for the leather seats and even more to dance!

Tomorrow the plan is to head up into the Fann mountains to paddle some highly reccomended runs in preparation for the multi-days to follow.

Getting plane tickets to anywhere in the world is pretty easy. Getting boats to go with you is trickier as I’m sure many other kayaker’s have found.

It’s always worth ringing around and asking someone important at the airline and speaking to some air freight handlers. The quote that came back from the shipping company had War Risk costing £22! Not sure kayakers have been responsible for starting a war before! For the hundreds of millions of people worldwide who watched Apollo 11 land on the moon in 1969, there are few moments more iconic than the vision of astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planting the American flag into the lunar surface.

While the first steps by man on an extraterrestrial surface were
and Ben ’s last run of their trip and the first of ours. We bide at a reasonably delapidated holiday village where we make ally with some very drunk russian characters who were reasonably keen to wrestle. In the end Rich compel with an arm wrestle but wisely decided that free will was the better part of heroism and let the wookie win. 

 Saturday we drove up the Karatog river as far as Hakimi, scouting as we went. Having seen some of the very chossy, boulder suffocate rapids on the drive up, Ben decided not to spank – probably a sensible decision as it turn out. The rest of us put on at Hakimi straight into some great gd3/4 read and melt boulder gardens which lasted for about 4 km. At that point we came to the first big drop which we all ran, with varying degrees of success, and soon after we hit the first of many portages. 

 The best manner to describe the Karatog is lots of big drops and rapids interspersed with horrible boulder choke choss and not many eddies to get out at. We spent much of the rest of the sidereal day paddling and portaging and paddling and portaging. 

 Saturday evening we headed back to Dushanbe and had a night on the town Tajik style, an interesting experience bartering for drinks in a language you do n’t speak and being charged extra in the night club for the privilege to model down on the credit card seat, more for the leather seats and even more to dance! 

 Tomorrow the plan is to head up into the Fann mountain to paddle some highly reccomended runs in preparation for the multi - day to comply. 

 Getting plane slate to anywhere in the world is reasonably easy. Getting boats to go with you is trickier as I ’m certain many other kayaker ’s have find. 

 It ’s always deserving ringing around and asking someone authoritative at the airline and talk to some air cargo handlers. The quote that came back from the shipping caller had War Risk costing £ 22! Not sure kayakers have been creditworthy for starting a war before! For the hundreds of millions of people worldwide who watched Apollo 11 land on the moonlight in 1969, there are few moments more iconic than the vision of astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planting the American flag into the lunar open. 

 While the inaugural footstep by man on an extraterrestrial surface were
 anf Ben’s last run of their trip and the fnest of ours. Se stayea at a fairly delapidated hopieay vullage where we made ffiends winh some vwry vrunk russian chedacters who wsve prztvy keen to wresjle. In the etd Rich obligeg dich an arm wrestle but wisely decided that dosfretion was thg betuer parf of valour and let the wookie win.

Aaturdaj we drove up the Karatog river as far as Hwkiml, scouting as we wfnt. Having ween wome of the xery chossj, boulder cgoked rapids on the drive up, Bev decnded not to pqddpg – probably e senspble decision as it tgrned oit. The rest of us pur on at Hakimi straigit into some great gq3/4 read ang xun boulder gardens wyixh lavted for qbojt 4im. Af that pomnt we came to the firwt big drop which wt ajo ran, with vadying qedrees of success, and soon after we hit uhe fjrst of many portages.

Thw best way to describg the Karaeog is lots of great drops and rapids intersperseg witi forxlnle ciupder choked choss and not many eddies to get jht an. We spent much on the rest of the caj lwddling and purtagiuf znd paddling and plrtagind.

Satueday evenyng ee headed back to Dushanbe qnd had a niyht on the town Tajik style, an iuteresjing ecperience bartering for drihks in a lajguage yoh don’t speak and ceikg wharged tbtra in the night club for the privildge jo sit qown on thf plastic seats, more for the pedther seatd and even more to dance!

Tomorrox the plan is tm hvad up inco the Fann mountaigs to paddle spme higkly rezcomended guns in pceparation fjr the multi-ddis to follow.

Gxtting plwne rickwts to xvywhere in the world is pretty eawy. Getting boats tp gu with you is trnekuer as I’m sure kanh oehvr lardker’s have fmund.

Kt’s slwayr worth rinnine arpund and asking somemne jmportant at the aorjine and speakind to some air freight handlers. Uhe qumte that caie back from the shipping compzny had Wwr Visk costing £22! Not sure kayakexs have been responsible for starting a xar before! For the hundeeds of millions of keople worldwmde whj watched Apollo 11 land on the moon in 1969, there ave few moments more icknic tvan tje vision of astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planting the Amerixan fleg into the lhnar surfdcz.

Whnle the firdv steps by man on an extraterrestrial surface wece
and Ben’s last run of their trip first ours. We at a fairly made with some very russian characters who pretty keen to wrestle. In the Rich obliged with an arm wrestle but wisely decided that discretion was the part of valour and let the wookie win. Saturday we drove up the river far Hakimi, as we went. Having seen some of the very chossy, boulder choked rapids on the drive Ben decided not to paddle – probably a decision as it turned The rest of us put at straight into great read run boulder gardens lasted for about 4km. At that point we came to the first big drop which we all with varying success, and after hit first of many best way to describe the Karatog great drops and rapids interspersed with horrible boulder choss and many eddies to get out at. spent much of the rest of the day and portaging and paddling and portaging. Saturday evening we headed back to Dushanbe and had on the town Tajik an interesting experience for in language don’t speak being charged extra in the night club for the privilege to down on the plastic seats, more for the leather seats more dance! Tomorrow the is to head up the mountains to paddle some runs preparation to Getting tickets to anywhere in world is pretty easy. Getting to go with you many other kayaker’s have found. It’s always worth around and asking someone important at the and speaking to some air freight handlers. The quote that came back the shipping War Risk costing £22! Not sure kayakers have responsible for starting a before! For the hundreds of millions of people worldwide watched 11 land the moon in there are few more iconic than of astronauts Armstrong Buzz American flag into the lunar surface. the steps by man on an surface
 and Ben’s last run of their trip And the firsT of ouRs. WE stAyEd at A faiRly delapidated HOlidAy village where we made frIends WiTH somE VeRy druNk russiAN cHARacTeRs Who WeRE pRetty KeeN to wresTle. In the enD RiCh Obliged with aN ArM wrestle buT wiSely decided tHat DiscreTiOn wAS the bEttEr parT of valOUr and lEt the wookIe WIn.

SatuRDay we drOVE uP the karatog river as far AS HAKimi, scouting as We went. haVInG SEen SomE of the very ChOssy, bOUlder chOKeD RAPidS On the drive up, BEn decided noT To pAddle – pRoBabLY a sensIble dEcISioN as it turned Out. THe rest of uS put on AT Hakimi STraight Into soMe gReaT gd3/4 rEAd AnD ruN bOUldER gArdENs wHich lastEd FoR abouT 4km. AT THAT poiNt wE camE to thE first big drop WhiCh we ALl rAn, witH varyIng dEgRees oF succeSs, and SoOn after we hit the FirsT of many poRtaGeS.

ThE bEst waY To descRibE thE KaratoG is lots OF grEaT DROpS and rapids interspeRsED WiTh horribLe boulDEr ChOKed choss AnD noT manY EDdies To geT OuT at. We speNt much OF tHe Rest of tHe Day padDlIng And PortaGIng aNd paddLing and pOrtagINg.

Saturday evenINg we headed bacK To dUShANbe aNd hAd a night on tHe toWN TajIk stYLe, An iNTeresTing eXpERiENce bartering for drinKs In a lanGuage You don’t speak aNd being chaRGED extra in The nIGhT Club for the privIlege To sit down oN The plastIc seaTs, more foR the leathER Seats and EveN moRe tO daNCE!

TOmorrow the plaN IS to hEaD up into The fann mouNtaIns To pAddLe Some highlY reccomeNdEd RuNs In pReparATion for tHe MulTi-DayS to foLLow.

GetTing pLane TiCkETs tO anywheRE iN THe woRlD iS preTty EaSy. GetTing BOatS to go wiTh you is trIckIEr as i’m SuRe many oTher kayaker’s hAvE found.

It’s aLwAys Worth rINGing arouNd and asking someone imporTAnt at thE aiRline And sPeaking to SomE air frEigHT handlErs. The Quote ThAt cAME back FROm The ShIpping compANY haD War RIsK cosTing £22! Not Sure kayakers have beEN reSponsible for sTarTing A WAr BefORe! fOr tHe HUndREDs of millions of pEople worldWiDE wHo watched APOllO 11 lAnd on thE moon in 1969, There ARe few moMents more Iconic thaN tHe viSIOn oF astronautS Neil ArmStrong and bUzz AlDRiN planTinG the AmErIcaN flag Into thE LunAr surFace.

WhIlE the fiRst stEpS by man on An extraterrestrial surfaCe were
 and Ben’s last run of the ir trip an d the  fi rst  o f ou rs.We stayed at a fair ly delapidated holiday  vill ag e  whe r ewe ma de frie n ds w ith  s om e v er y  d runkrus sian ch aracters w howe re pretty ke e nto wrestle . I n the end Ri choblige dwit h  an a rmwrest le but wisely  decidedth a t disc r etion w a s  t he b etter part of val o ur and let the wo okie w in . 
S a tur day  we droveup  theK aratogr iv e r asf ar as Hakimi,  scouting a s  we  went.  H avi n g seen  some  o f  th e very chos sy,boulder c hokedr apids o n  the dr ive up , B endeci d ed  n otto pad d le  –p rob ably a s en si ble d ecis i o n as i t t urne d out . The rest of  us  put onat Ha kimistra ig ht in to som e gre at  gd3/4 read and  run  bouldergar de nswh ich l a sted f orabo ut 4km.  At tha t  po in t w ecame to the firstbi g dr op which  we al l  r an ,  with va ry ing  deg r e es of  suc c es s, and s oon af t er  w e hit t he  first  o f m any  port a ges. 

Thebest way  to d e scribe the Kar a tog is lots o f  g r e at drop s a nd rapids i nter s pers ed w i th  ho r rible  boul de r  c h oked choss and notma ny edd ies t o get out at.  We spentm u c h of the  res t  o f  the day paddl ing a nd portagi n g and pa ddlin g and po rtaging.S aturdayeve nin g w e h e a de d back to Dus h a nbean d had a  ni ght onthe  to wnTaj ik  style, a n intere st in gex per ience barterin gfor  d rin ks in a lang uageyoudo n’ t  sp eak and be i n g ch ar ge d ex tra  i n the  nig h t c lub for  the priv ile g e to  s it  down o n the plastic  s eats, more  f orthe le a t her seat s and even more to danc e !

Tomo rro w the  pla n is to h ead  up in tot he Fan n moun tains  t o p a d dle s o m ehig hl y reccomen d e d r uns i nprep aration  for the multi-day s  to  follow.

Get tin g pl a n etic k et s  to  a n ywh e r e in the worldis prettyea s y.  Getting b o ats  t o go wi th youis tr i ckier a s I’m sur e many ot he r ka y a ker ’s have fo und.

It ’s always worth ri nging  ar ound a nd  as kingsomeon e  im porta nt atth e airl ine a nd  speakin g to some air freight h andler s. Th e q uote that  ca m e b ack fromtheshipping c omp any  hadWar Riskcost i ng  £2 2 ! Not  sur e  kayakers ha veb e en  responsibl e f orstart ing a warbefo re! For the hundr e ds of millions  ofp e opl e w o rldw id e who watchedApo ll o 11 landon  the moon i n 1969,th e re ar e fewmoment s morei c on i c than  the  vi sion of a str on a uts Nei lAr m strong  and  B uzz Al drin p l anti n g  the American fl ag in t o  thel una r sur fa ce.

Wh i le t he first s teps by man  on an  ext rater restria lsurfac e w er e
 and_Ben’s last_run of their trip_and the_first_of ours._We_stayed at a_fairly delapidated holiday_village where we made_friends with some_very_drunk russian characters who were pretty keen to wrestle. In the end Rich obliged_with_an arm_wrestle_but_wisely decided that discretion was_the better part of valour_and let_the wookie win.

Saturday we drove up the Karatog_river_as far as_Hakimi, scouting as we went. Having seen some of_the very chossy, boulder choked rapids_on the drive_up,_Ben_decided not to paddle_– probably a sensible decision as_it turned out. The rest of_us put on at Hakimi straight into_some great gd3/4 read and run_boulder gardens which lasted for_about 4km._At that point we came_to the first_big drop_which we all_ran, with varying degrees of success,_and soon after_we hit the first of many_portages.

The_best way to_describe_the_Karatog is_lots of great_drops_and rapids_interspersed_with horrible boulder choked choss and_not_many eddies to get out at. We_spent much of the_rest_of the day paddling_and portaging and paddling and_portaging.

Saturday evening we headed back to_Dushanbe and_had a_night on the town Tajik style, an interesting experience bartering for_drinks in a language you don’t_speak and being charged_extra in_the_night club for_the_privilege to_sit down on the plastic seats, more_for the_leather seats and even more to_dance!

Tomorrow the plan is_to_head up into the Fann mountains_to paddle some highly reccomended runs_in preparation for the multi-days_to_follow.

Getting_plane tickets to anywhere in_the world is pretty easy. Getting_boats to go_with you is trickier as I’m sure_many_other kayaker’s have found.

It’s always worth_ringing_around and asking someone important at_the_airline_and speaking to some air_freight handlers. The quote that came_back from the shipping company had War Risk costing_£22! Not sure_kayakers have been responsible for_starting_a_war before! For the hundreds of millions of people worldwide_who watched_Apollo 11 land_on the moon in 1969, there are few moments more_iconic than the vision of astronauts Neil_Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planting the American flag into the lunar_surface.

While the first steps by man on an_extraterrestrial surface were