central asia 'pick some holes'

This year I'm heading off to Central Asia and beyond. I have the L P Central Asia but can anyone throw any mud at my route.

Basically I intend to enter Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan (the Beyneu route along the train line). I know it's a devil of a track but the Turkmenistan option is too tough for a transit visa and too expensive for a guide.

This would bring us out to Nukus where we can continue on the A380 to Bukhara, on to Samarkand and up into Tashkent where we intend to arrange visa's for China (3 month visa's would be lovely).

If time is a huge issue we'll have to try to nip over to the Irkeshtam Pass, but if possible I'd love to try the Pamir Highway.

Is it possible to go via Dushanbe to Khorog via the Khaburabot Pass. Then from Khorog to Sary Tash and Irkeshtam to Kashgar.

I don't know what is a GBAO permit, or what is OVIR registration.

I am using a British Passport and my cycling partner has a U.S passport.

P.S. the L P search option leaves me bewildered, maybe somebody can give me a few pointers as to how I can narrow down my search info'.

Many thanks Andy (we leave the UK on March 24th and an optimistic outlook puts us in Tashkent about three months later approx July 1st.