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Well, what a fool! I've gone and left my bike in India. I'm just going to have to fly out there ride it all the way back home.

I fancy a different route this time and am aiming for the 'over Afghanistan' route. I have drawn a broad brush, finger in the wind, subject to change at any time etc. etc. route. Don't ask me why the colours are different or why Google Maps doesn't show the parts of the route on page two or why it won't show distances in km. Let us rejoice in that there is a free service that lets you drag markers around and it will draw a line along known roads out in the middle of nowhere.

Visas are more of a problem this time round. I imagine I'll be getting several on the road which means bonus days spent in national capitals. Top.

The view on the way home:

• India (226 pictures)
• Pakistan (223 pictures)
• China (87 pictures)
• Kyrgyzstan (212 pictures)
• Tajikistan (263 pictures)
• Kazakhstan (58 pictures)
• Russia (271 pictures)
• Eastern Europe (181 pictures)
• Final pics (7 pictures)