8 INCROYABLE months on a bike!

Asia » China » Xinjiang
March 21st 2014

Published: April 21st 2014

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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Jeremy Chiron

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

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the Tian Shan are phenomenal!

look at this water! If i go back, I will plan to spend a few more days in that area.

young herdsman before Kuerle, Xinjiang

We listened to music together and he showed me the river where I could "shower"...

That's what I'm talking about!

tasty and cheap dinner

enjoying!

Around Kuqa

in the middle of the desert, suddenly mountains appear

at Kuqa Canyon

Once again, all alone.

great life in Xinjiang!

Cool view, no? It took me about 30 minutes to rock climb to that place. There was nobody of course. i felt like I was on another planet!

The best!

If anyone mentions food from Xinjiang, this is what i would first think of!

making friends on the road

outside a police station. There were actually 30 policemen looking at us (all Uyghur) but as I was about to take a picture of them, their boss (Han) showed up and asked them to get back to work...

We shared cantaloupe and some drinks under a bridge

in the middle of the desert, under a bridge for some rest in the shade. It was so hot out in the sun

I was camped under the road in the tunnel

but the wind was so fierce, and then thunder, lightnings, I got afraid of flash floods and I moved around 3am to the side of the road. The wind was so strong, it broke the wooden arc of my tent... I didn't sleep much that one night. I set up my alarm every 30 minutes to check on the rain. In the morning all was peaceful again... in the middle of the highway.

in the desert

Jia You!

hidden in an orchard

great place to camp!

A Uyghur lady farmer near my tent

She smiled and we talked a bit. She invited me to her house and said I could sleep there with her kids, but I had already pitched my tent in an orchard and I didn't want to pack everything again. Good memory though!

and her kid

I shared some chewing-gum but they didn't seem to like it...

Good morning! Why would you camp when you can stay with us?...

yummy!

in Akesu. I crossed Xinjiang province in 16 days, covering about 1500km

oh yes!

I did enjoy the food in Xinjiang!

hahaha! in Akesu!

I'm smiling too!

Xinjiang food

mutton soup

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

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

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 :)

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8 INCROYABLE months on a bike!

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