We spent most of today exploring the road out to, and beside, Lake Yashilkul. The gravel road that ran along the southern side of the lake gave good views and some interesting driving. Much of the day was overcast so we also spent a good deal of time simply sitting looking at the lake waiting for the sun to come out to provide better photo ops. It did sort-of.


With our explorations over we headed ack to the main road and looked for a camping spot near some salt lakes visible from the highway but we were not scessful. So we decided to go to the turnoff to the Wakhan Valley and find a camping spot a few kilometers along the Wakhan Road. No sooner had we turned onto the road than we spotted two backpackers hitch hiking. WE relaxed our normal rule of "no hitch hikers" as on this road rides a scarce. So we picked up Alexander (from Belarus) and Anna (from Russia). After pacing them and their gear in the camper we drove about 1 km to an abandoned herders camp nestled up against a stone bluff and with some buiding ruins to offer or passengers a protected spot for their tent.