Leaving the levie station in Taftan in the back of our first escort
A lot of the barracks are done designed like medieval castles.
The windchill of the back of the trucks was pretty cold
These are the main truck used to transport everything in Pakistan. With horns as elaborate as their designs.
Back of another tuck
It gets pretty windy on the back of the jeeps. So windly you need to tie your hat on
It was a fun challenge figuring out how to fit four bike tourers and all their stuff in the trucks
Trucks passing through a police checkpoint
Out the back of a pick up truck is actually quite a nice way to see somewhere
Most of baluchistan looks like this
But some parts are nice and irrigated.
Waiting for our next escort
Being the smallest of the group it was my job to lodge myself into the smallest spaces in the back of the vans.
Wasn’t much room for rich either
Pensive rich
Hugo and his Pakistani friend. He spent the whole journey perched on his chair, unwrapping his turban into a blanket and wrapping it back. The pakistani man not hugo.
The train station in Multan
Old colonial building, Mughal mosques and Indian extravagance make for an interest mix in Pakistan
This would become a familiar sight. Men on bikes or motorbikes pulling along side to have a chat.
Andre with Rickshaw. It’s horn is nearly as loud as it’s decoration.
The price for getting free accommodation in a press club is being interviewed by 3 different TV stations
First grass we’ve seen in months
Just a camal drawn cart down Sahiwal mainstreet
We camped near a potato farm, the farmer came out and gave us some potatoes for dinner. A welcome treat for 3 irishmen.
A whole family on the motorbike
Hugo sitting down to tell us the tale of a spicy fly flying into his eye.
Passing a huge group of people and the sound of drumming off the the road we stopped and had to have a look. This was the first and last time we would willingly enter into a scrum of pakistanis.
What was going on was the annual drumming competition. And this was where we would meet the Lashari’s of Bama Bala and spend two nights with them.
This man looks so happy because he was in charge of crowd control. This involved flinging water at anyone who got two close.
We quickly over took the drumming as the main attraction of the event.
Anytime we stop we gather a circle of observer who just loom not interacting at all.
Amar Lashari’s adorable son Mehrooz
Mehrooz and Andre
The narrow streets of Bama Bala
Andre happy to pass on the coma inducing hookah
We waited around for hours for a dancing horse. What arrived was much more of a terrifying jumping and kicking horse. That had people taking pictures and running for safety in equal measure.
This was the hookah That The townspeople of Bama Bala puffed out of. I thought it was better to not subject my asthmatic lungs to it but it nearly knocked over the lads
After two days of constantly asking if he could shoot a gun richies wishes were answered.
Wahoo
These are too big for hunting.
This is Habib. Habib only wears black, he doesn’t speak and he always sits slightly outside the group of people. Yet when we were shooting the guns he was the one showing us how to do it.
Give us your best intimidating face
After spending two great nights with Amar and the rest of the Lasharis he had to say goodbye
Being invited to our second school visit in as many days
Maybe remembering all he wanted to do when he was in school was yell at the top of his lungs, this is exactly what Richie got every class we visited to do.
Spiderboy teaching the class
These hay carts were very common on the narrow punjab roads
Any room to get by?
Frank was the amazing couchsurfing host who put up Andre and Hugo for nearly a month. Frank and Lisa from germany also enjoyed his hospitality before leaving for india
Dehydration is the enemy
Richie fielding questions while Hugo engoys the peace
Hugo chatting to some Pakistanis … and a suprise MONKEY
Cycling sweetheart
Days and days of switchbacks
They just keep going
Cycled up to the snow
Feeding time at the zoo
Picture of us with the Kasmir mountains in the background
Pakistanis who we’ve never met and didn’t talk to us who wanted to be in the photo
More Pakistanis who wanted to be in the photo
Kashmir in the distance
The roads around Muree were the steepest of the trip so far. We often came across vomit left behind by pakistanis more used to the flat roads of Punjab
Clearing a landside
Not a bad view at lunch time
Cooking With Andre Augustsson
Hugo waiting for lunch
A typical scene of us being swamped by Pakistanis all wanting a picture. Though after a long climb Hugo was more interested in his lunch
The descent into Abbottabad was the longest of the trip so far and absolutely incredible. Perfect roads and great views the whole way
Richie taking the lead
Could do this all day
Our first sign with three scripts. No better example of the Silk Road.
Mosques and mountains
Vibrant laundry out to dry
Appperently there are rice paddies in northern Pakistan. Surprised all of us.
Escorts got pretty annoying as they followed us up the steep climbs
We camped behind that barricade to the left. After we were set up we asked the police if they had any drink and they said no but brought richie to some chinese. We presumed it was a chinese shop but turned out to be a bunch of chinese workers staying nearby. When Richie asked if they had a bottle of whisky the chinese laughs and say ” i don’t have a bottle of whisky, i have a bag of whisky. Yes apparently whisky comes in bags in china
Causing traffick jams evrytime we want a picture
First sight of the Indus
Landslides are very common along the KKH
China may be only 625 km away but beijing is 5425.
Kersplat
After changing a flat with an audience i got a pitcure of them
I don’t remember taking this picture but it looks like it was taaken from a plane
Cycling through a construction site
The misty rain really added a lot atmosphere to the ride
We cycled through bigger and bigger rivers as we got further up the mountains
Richie being chased by a JCB
One days worth of food for four bike tourists
After cycling through lush paddy fields, rolling foothills, the steep Indus valley arrive at the vast barren plateau was a lot to take in.
At this stage we knew Nanga Parbat was somewhere ahead and we were pretty excited.
Our police escorts always wanted their photos taken.
This was our guard for our day off in Chilas.
Landslide waiting to happen
Our dancing guard, a man prodding Hugo’s bike and Hugo having a piss in the distance.
Richie burning his head on hot spring water
Cycling from your front door to the ninth highest mountain in the world. Really we were just on a road beside it. It doesn’t really come out in the photo but i nearly fell of my bike when i saw it.
Nice spot to break down
Cycling through this landscape you really feel like you don’t have time to take it all in.
Sometime half the road falls away
Finger guns Fitzpatrick
The confluence of the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Himalayan mountain ranges. And our jaunty gaurd
He’s such a charmer
don't hurry the journey 
Unbelievable photos Finn. I didn’t realise that you were being escorted by armed police through Pakistan – is that right? Also, this is the first time I’ve felt in any way nervous; that is, when I saw Hugo relaxing on a precipice. Stop.
What an amazing adventure! I am so glad that André met you guys! I just loved the
picture with the little boy and André!
Our world is so wonderful, in spite of bad things happening!
One thing is for sure, money can´t buy happiness! You will have memories for life,
and friends too!
Take care!
Jessica Augustsson
I can´t tell you how grateful I am to you guys! I am so glad that Andre´ met you!
What an amazing travel! Wonderful pictures! You will get memories for life!
We are living in a wonderful world, in spite of everything bad that happens.
One thing is for sure – money can not buy happiness! I hope you are hale and hearty!
Jessica