The map around Miandasht is a lot of space and not many names. This is the dry plain of north-eastern Iran, on the old Silk Road corridor that runs along the southern foot of the Alborz and connects the towns of Shahrud and Sabzevar and, beyond, the great oasis cities of Khorasan. The land is mostly steppe and salt flats, with low hills on the horizon, little water, and a big, pale sky. Mayamey, the nearest named place on our list, is the district to the west.
The name Miandasht means something like the middle of the plain, and in Iran it is linked with a caravanserai, one of the walled roadside inns that merchants used when they travelled by camel and mule. These buildings were built roughly a day's travel apart, so that a caravan could arrive before dark, water the animals, and sleep behind thick walls. Many date from the Safavid period, when the shahs put considerable effort into the road network, and a number are still standing in the open desert, their domes and arches turned to the colour of the soil.
For a rider, the interest is distance. The roads here are long, straight and often empty, the asphalt is generally decent on main routes and rougher on side roads, and the key problems are wind, heat in summer and the lack of services. Spring and autumn are the good seasons, with clear light and temperatures that do not punish. In the middle of the day the plain shimmers, so mirages are common, and you should check your fuel more often than you think you need to.
There are no towns on the list within reach, so plan fuel and water carefully, filling up in Shahrud or Sabzevar and carrying a spare bottle. Phone coverage can fade away in the open. Tell somebody where you are going, take more water than seems necessary, and stop to look at any old brick dome you pass.