8 INCROYABLE months on a bike!


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Asia » China » Xinjiang
March 21st 2014
Published: April 21st 2014
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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



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My Dad + Michel + me at Lake Issyk-KolMy Dad + Michel + me at Lake Issyk-Kol
My Dad + Michel + me at Lake Issyk-Kol

little break from cycling by the lake
enjoying a swim in Septemberenjoying a swim in September
enjoying a swim in September

at Lake Issyk-Kol. refreshing!
oh yeah!oh yeah!
oh yeah!

Kyrgyzstan! delicious meat!
This is KyrgyzstanThis is Kyrgyzstan
This is Kyrgyzstan

Women in Kyrgyzstan wear the most colorful garments
relaxing lunch in Oshrelaxing lunch in Osh
relaxing lunch in Osh

James, Michel (my parents' friends) + my parents
we did need 8 hands to fix my wheel...we did need 8 hands to fix my wheel...
we did need 8 hands to fix my wheel...

broken spoke on the wrong side of the back wheel... trying to make a whip to dismantle the rear derailleur
on a plaza in Osh, Kyrgyzstanon a plaza in Osh, Kyrgyzstan
on a plaza in Osh, Kyrgyzstan

My Mom took the picture. All smiles. they offered my Mom ice-cream too!
ready to cycle!!!!!ready to cycle!!!!!
ready to cycle!!!!!

The lady was managing a little restaurant where we bought drinks before setting off. And she liked our big noses!
cycling Suusamyr Valleycycling Suusamyr Valley
cycling Suusamyr Valley

bad road but great vistas!
Around Kochkor, KyrgyzstanAround Kochkor, Kyrgyzstan
Around Kochkor, Kyrgyzstan

people in villages get water from pumps like these in every village in Kyrgyzstan
James'wife's family in KochkorJames'wife's family in Kochkor
James'wife's family in Kochkor

we stayed with them one night and they fixed a great dinner for us. Very nice people.



21st April 2014

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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 :)

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