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Published: June 21st 2014
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18.6.14 DUNHUANG UPDATE:
This afternoon visited the famed sand dunes 6 km out of town. Quite spectacular against the vibrant blue sky. The focal point is the Crescent Lake and Oasis. Quite beautiful. The were camel trains for tourists to climb the dunes. The camels in convoy looked impressive, picture Lawrence of Arabia!
GRAVEL CAMP: 19.6.14
Distance: 120 Kms SubT. 2826 Kms Bal 9,655 Kms Road Condition: ok, then gravel strewn by last night's storm. Strong and constant head wind.
Weather: pleasant early, then storm. Campsite hot, reflected off rock!
Time in Saddle: 6.5 hrs Av Speed: av. 18 kph. Av Cadence. Rpm
Elevation: 1000 m : Decent 150m
Calories burned : excessive. Now a shadow of my former self. Am eating but makes little difference!
Last night we ate dinner at the market, tasty skewers of meats and veg. Much tastier than the previous night and a fraction of the cost. Delicious. Then a very drinkable caramel milkshake. I believe I have eaten sufficient to ensure a strong effort for my first day back on the bike in the past 5 days. ( maybe I was wrong.) I must admit
to feeling a little anxiety about it!!
On the way back to hotel met 2 Oz girls from Melbourne cycling independently from M. to Glasgow. Have been on the road 14 months so far and anticipate another 18 months. Their bikes were very heavy, probably 80 kgs each. Can't imagine the stresses in cycling them uphill, but they have already climbed to 3800 metres. Made us all feel like wimps! Cheerful girls.
Departed at about 7. Average breakfast after a largely sleepless night.
Was a little stressed about the ride. First day after the fall. The stress intensified when I discovered that I had no rear brake for the ride! Only the front brake, so could only apply lightly. It turns out that the brake cable is full of dirt from the fall, restricting its action. Now being worked on by Doug, the mechanic. Hopefully will be fine!!
This morning the intrepid Oz girls came to wave us off. They need visa extensions, apparently no easy task.
The scenery today, would be best described as ugly. Imagine the Nullabor, without a single tree. Again saw about 500 wind turbines.
A storm brewed and broke
about 15 kms from camp. The road was littered with loose gravel, and rivers of muddy water, which added to my anxiety. No fresh falls thankfully. Can't believe that it is our fourth camping day, and fourth day of rain, AND we are in desert!!
Looking forward to a good meal and bed.
It's blowing gale force here now. I can't recall amore desolate and desperate place. They must be tough people who live out here!
DESERT CAMP FRIDAY 20.6.14
Distance: 144 Kms SubT. 2966 Kms Bal 9,511 Kms Road Condition: expressway
Weather: blue sky. Hot at camp. Windy.
Time in Saddle: 5.5 hrs Av Speed: av. 25 kph.
Elevation: 300 m : Decent 700m
Calories burned : 5000
The scenery today was photographic. Stony plains, purple mountains, blue sky. The scenery is vast, much like Australia's interior.
Up early and on the road to beat the rising heat. We had a good tail wind which made me think I was a champion on the bike. I hope tomorrow the wind remains on the tail again.
Today's campsite could be best described as a gravel camp
providing the icing over soft sand. Arriving at 1 pm, we have 8 hours to sundown. Not much to do. The debate is whether to leave later, but then we are riding in heat and stronger winds. The debate rages.
The camp is near a truck stop. A couple live there. It must be a desperate life. Mounds of consumed bottles, ruined tyres, tyre wire, human excrement. Very scenic!! However they sold cold drinks!
Went to bed at 10. Tried earlier but way to hot. Left puddles in my tent. Got up at 2 am to view the stars. The sky was brilliant. Marvellous to see stars, first time since GC.
HAMI. 21.6.14
Distance: 150 Kms SubT. 3116 Kms Bal 9,361 Kms Road Condition: expressway 80%
Weather: blue sky.!Windy.
Time in Saddle: 5.5 hrs Av Speed: av. 25 kph.
Elevation: 300 m : Decent 700m
Calories burned : 5050
Got up at 5.30, a little out of sorts, a howling wind made it very difficult to collapse the tent and roll it up to fit in the bag, so much so I had to leave the bed mat
out and put it separately on the truck. Then the rubber band holding my brake and gear lever on the handle bars perished, necessitating a hunt for another band, breakfast was not its normal standard. The bread has now turned stale and is like Chewing on a rock. Delicious! Lunch was no better. Then I had my first flat tyre of the trip. A very happy camper today!
Arrived at hotel, refolded camping so it fits in bag, spent an hour hand washing 2 days clothes, then found scales and weighed myself. Have lost 10.5 kgs since departing GC in mid May. Feel I am eating enough, not hungry, but the extreme exercise is making the muscle tone eat away. Not sure what else I can do. Consequently some days leave me a little flat. Today is an example. I will stop moaning now and seek out a cold beer, if one exists in far west China.
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Barbara
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Happy to send you some body fat for you to burn for me. Sisterly love etc. .lolz