Training through China

Monday October 27, 2014

Monday October 27, 2014 Train 2,000 miles The night before we left Kashgar my intestinal illness reappeared with a roar. After so many antibiotics we believe the Giardia parasites are still dormant inside our intestines and surfaces at the worst times. The vomiting, diarrhea and nausea is really getting old. We slowly worked our way to the train station where are bikes and most of our panniers were packaged for a follow up freight train. We were unaware that our bikes would travel separately and since we were planning to train all the way to Chengdu (another 600 miles from Lanzhou) we had them freighted all the way and hope they are there at the end of the week.

The ride from Kashgar to Urumqi took 25 hours and did provide me with lots of bedtime as we were in what is called a 2 berth soft sleeper. Making my way to the train’s tiny squat closet was very unpleasant though and that happened a few times every hour. From the Urumqi train station we found a decent hotel which again provided me with much needed rest. Jocelyn’s bout reappeared during the end of our Pamir Mountains ride. Crackers and watered down noodles was all I could stomach.

After two nights we once again were on the train, this time to Lanzhou. While waiting for the train we met our friend Michael from Switzerland. We have caught up with him many times. He also has a 30 day visa. There is no way to cycle across China in that little time so most cyclists use the train for part of the journey. Other cyclists ride their 30 days then fly out. We hear that visa extensions are easy to get but require 5 days. We do not want to spend any more time waiting for visas.

We are looking forward to biking again as the last several weeks we have been in limbo waiting for visas then busing and training. After Chengdu we hope that the remainder of our China biking time will put us in Laos.

A goat's last stand.
A goat’s last stand.
The courtyard at our hostel. Really nice and friendly spot.
The courtyard at our hostel. Really nice and friendly spot.
Cooking.
Cooking.
A fine Chinese beer with dinner.
A fine Chinese beer with dinner.
Yoshi and Jimbo from Japan.
Yoshi and Jimbo from Japan.
"Sweepers, sweepers, man your brooms..."
“Sweepers, sweepers, man your brooms…”
The police letting everyone know their presence.
The police letting everyone know their presence.
Our train cabin from Kashgar to Urumqi. We were crossing the desolate Taklamakan Desert.
Our train cabin from Kashgar to Urumqi. We were crossing the desolate Taklamakan Desert.
I feel as bad as I look.
I feel as bad as I look.
A fence around a Urumqi park. I don't understand the need for coiled razor wire.
A fence around a Urumqi park. I don’t understand the need for coiled razor wire.
Downtown Urumqi. We are glad our bikes our being delivered further south.
Downtown Urumqi. We are glad our bikes our being delivered further south.
The sidewalks share with car parking. Typical cyclists yell out "car back" when a car is coming up the rear. Jocelyn would say "car back" when we were walking on the sidewalk.
The sidewalks share with car parking. Typical cyclists yell out “car back” when a car is coming up the rear. Jocelyn would say “car back” when we were walking on the sidewalk.
Interesting looking fruit.
Interesting looking fruit.
On our ride from Urumqi to Lanzhou we were in a soft sleeper quad. There were two people in the upper berths for part of the trip. There are also 6 berth "hard sleepers" with 3 vertical berths and no doors.
On our ride from Urumqi to Lanzhou we were in a soft sleeper quad. There were two people in the upper berths for part of the trip. There are also 6 berth “hard sleepers” with 3 vertical berths and no doors.
Another long train ride. At any given time there are 10 million Chinese travelling by train.
Another long train ride. At any given time there are 10 million Chinese travelling by train.
Lanzhou is full of high rises.
Lanzhou is full of high rises.
A view from our Lanzhou 13th floor hotel room.
A view from our Lanzhou 13th floor hotel room.

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The variety of meat in China is interesting. On this table are various birds, tongues and feet.
The variety of meat in China is interesting. On this table are various birds, tongues and feet.
For the last several months we have been craving western food and saw KFC. It looks bad that we are eating KFC in China but we have sampled many Chinese dishes. This just looked too good.
For the last several months we have been craving western food and saw KFC. It looks bad that we are eating KFC in China but we have sampled many Chinese dishes. This just looked too good.
And it was delicious! This is the first day I was able to really eat. We can't remember the last time we had ice.
And it was delicious! This is the first day I was able to really eat. We can’t remember the last time we had ice.

One thought on “Training through China

  1. Now you know that KFC is one reason I worked at Melbourne campus…just saying how it was always a good deal! I hope that the train rides will be memorable as you are making a quick trip with the distance you have to cover…Movin’ on! I know you have a good chance of making it south to Laos if the weather holds for another month. This is a truly amazing world, and I am glad that we can chat on Skype often! Love you always, andee

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