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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Late July in Kashgar

wandering around the bazaar

crowded bazaar in Kashgar!

At Lake Karakol, south of Kashgar, on the way to Pakistan

going for a hike and enjoying it!

peaceful and gorgeous hike at Lake Karakul

a few yurts to host tourists.

but 100m down, nobody but mosquitoes... peace in Xinjiang in a Kyrgyz area

after a long day of Hiking, David (USA) and i got back knackered

At lake Karakul with a Kyrgyz hat

lake Karakul

view from the mountain by the lake (difficult hike)

it was so hot I couldn't resist!

skinny dipping at lake Karakul! David (from the US) and I had walked all day up and down at high altitude, I felt disgusting, sweaty and dusty... David walked away as I told him I would jump in... the Americans are so prude! The French aren't!

in the yurt with 3 American guys and 2 Chinese ladies.

Kevin in red is teaching in Beijing. And check out David on the left! haha!

at Lake Karakul

the road to lake Karakul

is a popular road for cyclists because it's absolutely scenic with high mountains but it's often flooded...

Happy "nan" man in Kashgar!

dinner with friends from the guest house in Kashgar

The older gentleman rode his beat up bike from Switzerland! The young Chinese man was studying music in Kashgar and the girls were on holidays

Kashgar from above

I rode towards the Kyrgyz border

and stopped near a factory. The guard helped me put up my tent and invited me for breakfast in the morning. Thank you! The police paid me a visit that one night... asking me to get a hotel room in town: "it is safer." As I refused they gave me their phone number just in case... I was happy to be allowed to camp.

Crossing no man's land between China and Kyrgyzstan

Had to share a taxi as the police didn't allow us to hitch a ride with the trucks...

I shared a taxi into Kyrgyzstan with this 63-year old man from Japan

he's walking from Japan to Europe!!!!! And I thought I was hardcore...

first vistas in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzsan: a real roller coaster!

always up and down!

Kyrgyzstan! So beautiful but so hard with the altitude and the wind.

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

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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