We are recovering from a well deserved hangover (Rebecca more than I) after a bumpy tour of Armenia and southern Georgia.

From the splendid Kackar mountains in Turkey, we crossed the border into Georgia, after the Turkish extracted a $110 fine for not being insured in Turkey, thank goodness all the other countries we were uninsured in did not do the same.

From the tropical coastal resort of Batumi we crossed the truely exquisite mountains of the Adjara region, staying in a farmhouse with a charming family who looked after us so well and refused any form of payment. Three roads cross the border into Armenia, we took the second largest which can only be described as a tank track. Rebecca has a rather bruised bum, the bike has a dented wheel and a flat tyre and I owe my wife three more G&Ts.

We loved the mountains, monasteries and people of Armenia as much we hated the decay left by the Soviets. After visiting the holy city of Echmiadzin, we camped by the shores of the azure lake Sevan before visiting some of the deeply spiritual and tranquil monestries of the Lori region.

Tomorrow we will head north to the border with Chechnya, deep in the magnificant Caucasus mountains before leaving for central Asia via Baku on 17th September.