| Log In | Sign In

Travel Blog » Asia » China » Xinjiang » Blogs » 8 INCROYABLE months on a bike!

8 INCROYABLE months on a bike!

 « Previous Entry
Next Entry »
 

Advertisement
Asia » China » Xinjiang
March 21st 2014
Published: April 21st 2014
Edit Blog Post
I still can’t believe it’s over. It’s actually been a while now. After cycling from Gansu Province to Xinjiang, then on to the <em style="line-height: 1.428571429;">Stans , Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, I am back with Becky in Beijing, China. I have a good job (back to teaching) and surprisingly often enough the sky is amazingly blue over the city. Of course there ... Read Full Entry



Photos are below
Photos: 391, Displayed: 21


Advertisement
Comment Message
Jeremy Chiron
Jeremyaroundtheworld
Jeremyaroundtheworld
I am a 36-year old language teacher, currently working in Beijing. I was born in France but China has been my home for many years. I taught French and English in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, for 6 years. I never thought I would stay in China for such a long time but it’s been an amazing experience! Professionally speaking, teaching Chinese students is extremely rewarding. They are so hard-working and eager to learn new things. And then China… there aren’t enough words to describe this intricate (hence fascinating) country. “China is not to be liked or disliked: i... full info
Blog Options
Top PhotosBlog Map

Print Version
[blog=834577][blogger=262429]


in Akesuin Akesu
in Akesu
fewer Han Chinese here
on the road againon the road again
on the road again
I stopped at a convenience store where I met these 2 kids who were all curious about my trip, and ready to speak a few sentences in English. Good memory!
more camping, not far from the roadmore camping, not far from the road
more camping, not far from the road
enjoying a simple mealenjoying a simple meal
enjoying a simple meal
but after a long day on the bike, it feels like heaven!
in the desert, behind a dunein the desert, behind a dune
in the desert, behind a dune
so quiet. You should have seen the stars at night! It was magical!
my first flat tire... where is the puncture?!my first flat tire... where is the puncture?!
my first flat tire... where is the puncture?!
That's when I realized the inner-tubes I had bought were size 26 inches... but my wheels are 28!!!! F#$%!!!!!
it was so hot there to patch the puncture...it was so hot there to patch the puncture...
it was so hot there to patch the puncture...
and no shade wherever
I pumped and cycled, pumped up my tire and cycled...I pumped and cycled, pumped up my tire and cycled...
I pumped and cycled, pumped up my tire and cycled...
until I screwed up the valve... the mechanic told me to buy a new inner-tube... where? the closest city is 200 km away! One of these guys gave me a piece of rubber and I super-glued it to the valve... it worked! I went on until Kashgar with the same inner-tube!
by the side of the roadby the side of the road
by the side of the road
best fruit in Xinjiang!
difficult windy day again!difficult windy day again!
difficult windy day again!
it was hard work to ride through the Xinjiang desert... I don't think i would want to do it again.
hot and barehot and bare
hot and bare
hidden for the nighthidden for the night
hidden for the night
check out how dry this place is.
In KashgarIn Kashgar
In Kashgar
at the night market. Sheep head anyone?
visiting Kashgarvisiting Kashgar
visiting Kashgar
peaceful but also all renovated
great art work in Kashgargreat art work in Kashgar
great art work in Kashgar
walking the streets, exploring the back streets.
at the animal marketat the animal market
at the animal market
great place to people watch!
at the animal market in Kashgarat the animal market in Kashgar
at the animal market in Kashgar
look at those faces! this is Kashgar!
in Kashgarin Kashgar
in Kashgar
great photogenic faces at the animal market
at the bazaar in Kashgarat the bazaar in Kashgar
at the bazaar in Kashgar
Kashgar BazaarKashgar Bazaar
Kashgar Bazaar
it was packed with people and colors
on a blazing hot day in Kashgaron a blazing hot day in Kashgar
on a blazing hot day in Kashgar
people everywhere, crowds, noise, heat, no air...



21st April 2014

Home and Away
Bob Carlsen

I was so happy to hear that Becky wants to join you next time...
I thought it was going to be a choice between her and the road. Now you can "have your cake and eat it too." The TB community looks forward to your completion of the Silk Road and your blogs. Meanwhile blog about life in China with Becky...and the joys of teaching languages. And you might go back and tell about your life in the U.S. and Australia.
22nd April 2014

RENanDREW
Ren & Andrew

Fantastic summary!
Thanks for the lovely summary of your incredible bike trip, I especially loved reading about the encounters you had with local people. Even after just a month away, putting on work clothes and shoes seemed odd - so I can imagine how you felt going back to city and working life again. Hope you hear about your next adventures soon! :)
22nd April 2014

denidax
Deni, Dax and Ella

Congratulations! What I loved the most is how extremely happy you look on all your photos! Please, don't stop blogging after this. All the best
23rd April 2014
lake Karakul

auspicious
Michelle Duer

How surreal! I loved these lines: "Yes, I had to cook my own food; I often didn’t have running water (rivers), and on a few nights it got very cold (my water bottles froze inside my tent on many occasions) but I didn’t owe anything to anyone. It was just me and the stars, the birds and I, the dunes and I, and the sound of water or the ice-cracking at night." -- such a liberating and self-aware journey!
23rd April 2014
this summarizes Kyrgyzstan on a bike!

taracloud
Tara Cloud

Freedom on the open road...
Great summary of a most amazing journey! I love the freedom that you got, stopping where ever you wanted and seeing things up close, better than in a bus or car. Fabulous encounters with the locals that touched my heart, too. I'm sure you and Becky will have some adventures in China, so I look forward to those. Bon voyage!
23rd April 2014
At Lake Karakol, south of Kashgar, on the way to Pakistan

Dancing Dave
David Hooper

I CAN DO ANYTHING
Fabulous adventure...fabulous achievement...how wonderful you could share it...with locals...with Becky...and with your TB friends in the ether. While memories may fade over time you have zillions of great photos to relive and revive your soul. But one thing that will remain with you I am sure...is the knowledge that you can do anything you set your mind to...yep...anything.
9th May 2014

ingnova
Ingrida

Thanks for sharing
This last log sums it up, how incredible it was. Amazed about organizing all gear for such grand trip and puzzled what part of Europe would be nice to cycle, may be Finland for me in the summer.. Welcome to the Baltics if you ever make to this part :) Sure, its nothing of significance of nature like isolated mountains and deserts of Asia. yes, better lets keep dreaming :)

Travel Blog » Asia » China » Xinjiang » Blogs » 8 INCROYABLE months on a bike!
Tot: 0.323s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 31; qc: 143; dbt: 0.1956s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.5mb

Copyright Notice: All Rights Reserved

Do not copy images or text from this page without requesting and receiving permission. All rights are reserved by the author and photographer.

Contact Jeremy Chiron (Jeremyaroundtheworld) - a lack of a response does not mean that you have permission to use material from this page.