During the first multiday section from Bejnue to Nuxus the desert had a lot of ground cover. You could see the sandy soil but there were plenty of small shrubs growing. With that was an abundance, I would now say, of wildlife.

Camels and horses were frequently spotted off in the distance,  hogging the fast lane or moseying across in front of you. Cows , especially around any villages, also making an appearance.  In periods where none of these could be seen it was the turn of our feathered friends with equally frequent sightings of large birds of prey accompanied by marmots, sand rats and gerbils hopping about. (Gid managed to get a photo good enough to identify a Steppe Eagle).

The traffic was so sparse that we were often two abreast, occupying the broad expanse of their highway, chatting away the miles or fumbling around with cameras trying to take action photos while on the move.

But this second section from Khiva to Bukhara is very different. The desert itself has far less vegetation. It’s possible, at times, to see the classic ridges in the sand which is sparsely populated with taller but wispy shrubs. Traffic passes more frequently now but there is nothing out there. Not a living thing that we have seen. Endless kilometers of nothing.  Hour upon hour of nothing.

 

Except, that is, for  winged torpedoes that dart across my face waiting for a break in my demented arm flapping to make their attack; ears, eyes, nose and mouth are the targets where they can feed on my sweat and spittle.

(Gid managed this section a whole lot better than me. A brief, ‘ bit boring isn’t it’ cast over his shoulder and he was away.)