This week we received greetings from John Pilkington in Georgia on his latest adventure "The Lebanon Mountain Trail"

You will find John's previous story on our blog if you are interested in his initial adventure plans.

Here is his latest update.....

"Slightly off course at the moment, but enjoying some splendid hospitality and great Caucasus trekking along the Russian border.

Despite frantic efforts and the help of people in high places the Iranians finally refused my visa three weeks ago. Not surprising really, considering what's been going on in Tehran. It's just rather frustrating that they sat on my application through the whole of March, April and May when they were giving visas to other people, but in June all visas were stopped and in July they deported some of the lucky people already in the country.

At the same time the Pakistan army has been driving the Taliban out of the Swat Valley, and guess what, they seem to have regrouped in hideouts along the Afghan border just where I was hoping to cross; so I wasn't at all surprised when the Pakistanis also refused my permit to enter there.

On the plus side, I've spent an unexpectedly brilliant three weeks enjoying the generosity of the Kurds in northern Iraq. North-east Syria was pretty amazing too, where the Euphrates winds its way through the desert.

The good news is that the Neons and especially the Lithium XCR's have been fantastic, and at 42 degrees in the Syrian desert I really appreciated them. No damage or serious wear and tear so far.

As I carry on eastwards, I've come to have a look at Georgia and Armenia and will perhaps have another bash at Iran and Afghanistan next year. It's a bit of a disappointment but I'm considering that part of the trip "postponed" rather than abandoned.

I will send through another trip update when I've finished in the Caucasus."

John Pilkington