KUQA rest day

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KUQA : REST DAY. TUESDAY 1.7.14.

weather: clear sky, hot high 30s.



This is a sleepy place, probably due to heat. Main streets are tree lined which provide shade and atmosphere. The small shops sell everything. Most are similar, so I don't know how they all make a living. Found a large mall. A few shoppers, but not overwhelming. Like home, the financial metrics of successful retailing are a mystery to me. The Main Street is more commercial, lacks trees and is hot. I imagine winter here would be the opposite end of the temperature spectrum.



Ate lunch which was a good start, more meat skewers and bread. Ate with Phil, he had a thick noodle dish with hot red veg and some meat. Looked ok, so will go back there this evening for a meal.



A dusty fruit and veg market on the corner, selling primarily Apricots, Pumpkin and watermelon. The Apricots looked past their time.



The schedule for the next week has been released. Effectively an average 150 Kms per day for 6 days. 5 nights camping, 1 hotel. Daunting in this heat and inadequate food!



Lunch was filling and nourishing so went in search of a bike shop to purchase more tubes and patch kits. You never know when they will be needed. Can't believe how naive I was before starting out on this trip! Reread TDA's web page on this trip a few moments ago, it has reinvigorated my enthusiasm, thankfully. The next few days will be hard, so hopefully arrive in Kashgar in good order as it is one of those towns I have wanted to see.



Returned to the lunch restaurant for dinner with Brian. Discovered he and I have some similar interests in music and activities. He had worked at Deloitte straight after Uni, only for 9 months before joining the oil in an accounting capacity.



Ate a good meal. Hopefully energised for tomorrow.

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