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-12deg, after Lee road over barbed wire. We then hauled our bikes up a
ridiculously tough climb of 35-40% gradient of an old Soviet road that is
now not a road, just a grassy barbed wire torture trail! For me it was the
toughest climb so far. Plus we have been camping at 3500m so recovery is
not the best. But the harder it gets the more I seem to enjoy it!

The antibiotics have worked a treat, and although I still cough A LOT, I can
breath okay now on the climbs. I met another racer yesterday with the same
thing but she was in a really bad way, but I believe she has now started
antibiotics. But in comparison to her I got off very lightly.

So much to say but I just don't have the time. I must sleep now.

*28 August at 9:18 AM ·

Made it to checkpoint 3! Whoop whoop! Yesterday we lost half a day, only
making a distance of 70km! After a long climb we made it up to 3700m where
there was a stretch with lots of rivers to cross and a big section of
marshland with no fixed route to navigate across. It took a long time to make
very little progress. We didn't make it to the descent off the plateau that
we were hoping for so had a cold night at 3700m. We were up to face a frozen
tent and VERY frozen shoes after they had been so wet crossing rivers
yesterday. It was a painful process trying to get them on, but we were quickly
walking pushing our bikes over more marshland so they warmed up quick. The
marsh was now frozen making a bit easier to navigate than the day before.
As we started our descent we were caught in a number of snow flurries, but
as we were heading to lower altitudes we weren't too bothered. We have just
had a lovely hot meal with the wonderful volunteers at CP3 and are drying
our tent before we make our way towards a monster climb for tomorrow. I
think there are only about 30 riders left in. I still can't fathom how there are
people who have already finished... I think I have to walk more than most haha!
It's going to be very tight to make the cut off, but we have until midnight
Saturday. Onwards xx

P.s the choco-pie got me across China so let's hope it gets me across
Kyrgyzstan

Will let you know how she got on next month
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