Day 72 Jun 20 Wed - Siker to Kashi

Today's Distance: 157km

Temp:22 - 33 c
Average Speed: 20.4
Time on Bike: 7 hr 30 min
Ave climb: ?
Trip altitude max: 1305m
Today's spending: 103 rmb
Total Distance to date: 5060km
Total spending to date:4649.50 rmb

The name Kashgar is what the Uyghur called. The ride from Siker started 8.30am,flat and rolling for the first 75km and this gradually downhills with the last 20 km dash to Kashi in the highway.Weather is hot and wind is considered friendly.A few time I have to stop not b'cos I am hungry or tired but mostly sleepy,pedalling under hot weather and on such long straight road with no settlements or better scenery to admire,you tends to feel sleepy.I'LL STOP TO REST ,DRINKS & EAT FOR 5-10 min. Mr chau I met who was driving from Korla to Kashi,He is working for the China Railway for 26 yrs , on his way to deliver chemicals for his worker in Kashi.We have lunch together for hot & spicy deep fried freshwater fish. He invited me to stay in the Railway Bing Guan in Kashi.

Day 71 Jun 19 Tue - Sanchakou to Siker

Today's Distance: 100km

Temp:22 - 34 c
Average Speed: 18.2
Time on Bike: 5 hr 18 min
Ave climb: ?
Trip altitude max: 1249m
Today's spending: 80.5 rmb
Total Distance to date: 4908km
Total spending to date:4546.50 rmb

Sanchakou in mandarin means "3 junctions" Going west is Kashi,going south is Hotan in Tibet. There is very few towns ( I rather called them truckstops),the people and business depends heavily on the passing trucks and express buses.Petrol station,restauran,shops,food & drinks stalls cannot surviveif the trucks/buses don't stop here. I did not pass a single town or village today after 100km ride but I always carry enough foods to deal with such situations.Siker ,a very small village almost 100% with Uyghur domination,can't find a chinese eatery stall around but was lucky to find a miserable stay for 10 yuan. It was a formerly workers hut somewhat was converted into a stay by this man alone. A very strange man don't give you a damn,he will sleep all days and I had to wake him up everytime I need something.Tonight's dinner is home cook porrigde and a pack of beef noodles. Very miserable!

Day 70 Jun 18 Mon - Akqa to Sanchakou

Today's Distance: 106km

Temp:20 - 30 c
Average Speed: 15.1
Time on Bike: 7 hr 04 min
Ave climb: ?
Trip altitude max: 1119m
Today's spending: 30 rmb
Total Distance to date: 4808km
Total spending to date:4466 rmb

Today's ride is most pleasent,smooth,relex,enjoyable and ots of goodies. Started 8.30am with few biscults & tea( nothing to eat in Akqa anyway). Morning weather was good with slight tailwind.The bike is so smooth after serviced yesterday.Hardly an hour on the road,I was offered rockmelons and a huge Uyghur's nan bread by a chinese Han Mr Li who was driving alone from Korla to Kashi. He wanted to give me a life to Kashi when he knew I also going there,probably he felt pity on me with this heavy awful looking bike cycling under hot sun.but I have to say no as I explain this is my hobby as long my bike and me is ok,I will ride! Later, 2 army trucks stop by the side offered me again rockmelons and 2 minerals water, they are from the Tanker units on their way to a training camp. Pity photos was not allow. And then a nice Sichuan restauran appeared in an unexpected town not shown on map for a very satisfactory lunch stop. Pork fried with potatos onions,red cili,3 bowls of rices with again free rockmelons to wash the mouth.About 1 km to Sanchakou,I met this Han hawker near the public toilet where most of the express buses stop.He asked me to stay in his guesshouse for 5 yuan,the cheapest so far. It is really clean with wall fan. With so many goodness,I slept very very good tonight...

Day 69 Jun 17 Sun - Aksu to Akqa

Today's Distance: 117km

Temp:20 - 30c
Average Speed: 14.3
Time on Bike: 8 hr 25 min
Ave climb: ?
Trip altitude max: 1109m
Today's spending: 31.50 rmb
Total Distance to date: 4702km
Total spending to date:4436 rmb

Aksu is a big modern city Xinjiang,here you can find many Han chinese as always dominating the economy,doing business,shops and restaurant,making the city looks lively. Whereas in rural areas which i cycled past,mostly are the muslim Uyghurs.I did not have much time to see around this town as I was back on my bike this morning at 8.30am.After a bowl of beef noodle ( i started to hate of having it,but this is really the best I can have). Traffic was busy and bumpy for the first 10km,then it joined back to the wider smoother main road of G314 .I was moving slowly with a bit of headwind and also the "whizing" rubbing sound from the very dry and dirty chain,it is time I need to service and lub the chain,afterall it was in Urumqi 10 days ago since the last serviced.It has been hard to find good food along the way and I am slowly loosing my appetite and that's dangerous! I really missed home foods with so many varities and style of cookings to choose from. Guess I am a little homesick now...

Day 68 Jun 16 Sat - Truckstop 819 kmstone - Aksu

Today's Distance: 186km

Temp: 16 - 28c
Average Speed: 22.5
Time on Bike: 8hr 25 min
Ave climb: ?
Trip altitude max: 1103m
Today's spending: 64.5 rmb
Total Distance to date: 4585km
Total spending to date:4404.50 rmb

Great day for me! I never expected to hit this new record of 186 km. Compared to yesterday only 70km, I was not really cycling,seem lost,the feeling of cycling alone bothers me. But with todays 186km , it proved that I can get over with it fast and focus on the mission ahead. The tailwind also plays an important part from start to finish. The strong tailwind did caused some sandstorm at certain stretch,but I really don't mind cos' it only helps to push me faster. At 7.30pm I already at Aksu and pays 40 yuan for a single bedroom. Sent an email to Heather that I am now in Aksu and also I want to know her condition and also her plan to meet up later.I am hopping that we can back cycling together again from Kashi.

Day 67 Jun 15 Fri - Kuqa - Truckstop 819km stone

Today's Distance: 70km

Temp:22 - 32c
Average Speed: 14.4
Time on Bike: 5 hr 30 min
Ave climb: ?
Trip altitude max: 1035m
Today's spending: 21 rmb
Total Distance to date: 4399km
Total spending to date:4340rmb

Today I really miss Heather,my riding partner as we had been riding together since leaving Beijing on 10 Apr.She was in bad shape and vomitted 2x last night & morning. It was indeed tough after 3 continuous tough days of doing 100km over.She was still in bed when I woke up 7.30am ,normally she wake up first and say" Good Morning, Meng!" I did not hear that but instead " Meng, I won't be riding this morning,I needed a longer rest here , maybe I'll catch a bus or train later to meet you up either in Aksu or Kashi" We had a short disscusion and agreed to communicate via internet. I had to ride as I had lost 8 days in Urumqi and also I don't intend to take bus or train as long my bike and health is able. I respect her decision and I wish her well soon.

Day 66 Jun 14 Thu - Luntai to Kuqa

Today's Distance: 113km

Temp:20 - 33c
Average Speed: 14.8 (Heater)
Time on Bike: 7 hr 40 min
Ave climb: ?
Trip altitude max: 1053m
Today's spending: 49 rmb
Total Distance to date: 4329km
Total spending to date:4319 rmb

Another day of flat with a few rolling small hills.Weather in the morning was hazy but towards afternoon,the vision was better,wind condition was calm and gets a strong headwind in the afternoon,that spoiled our plan to cover another 40km to Xinhe.When we rode in to Kuqa at 5.30pm,the temptation of a nice warm shower and bed were too hard to resist.We were really tired but did not want to admit,I guess.Jiutong Bing Guan is our stay in Kuqa for a double bed room at 40 yuan each. I noticed that I somehow lost the interest of taking photos,just pedal & pedals in order to cover more distance....

Day 65 Jun 13 Wed - Farm 29 to Luntai

Today's Distance: 131km

Temp:25 - 36c
Average Speed: 15.9 ( Heater)
Time on Bike: 8Hr 13 min
Ave climb: ?
Trip altitude max: 10110m
Today's spending: 70 rmb
Total Distance to date: 4216km
Total spending to date:4270 rmb

Flat!Flat!Flat & Hot..hot...hot!! Is the only highlight for today;s ride.Many many cold drinks and watermelons stops. at 7.30pm arrived at Luntai still under very bright hot sunlight. The time in Xinjiang ,4000km west of Beijing but still follow the Beijing time which is similar to Malaysia time. So practically you still can ride under bright sunlight by 9-10 pm.

Day 64 Jun 12 Tue - Hejing ,Korla - Farm 29

Today's Distance: 131km

Temp: 20 - 33c
Average Speed: 15.6 ( Heather )
Time on Bike: 8 hr 22 min
Ascent: ?
Trip altitude max: 1215m
Today's spending: 53 rmb
Total Distance to date: 4085km
Total spending to date:4200 rmb

Today's ride to Korla,80km from Hejing,we just rode past without stopping.At time 2.30pm its still early and we decided to ride further to make up for the km lost in Urumqi and also the hard climb on day 60,61& 62.We plan to reach Kashi on 23 Jun and hope to cross the border to Kyrgyzstan on 27 Jun.My China visa will expire om 3 or 4 July while Heather's on 01 July.Did not take much photos today as the scenery were pretty much the same,sometimes it also depends on the mood on that day.I drank the most cold drinks 4 bottles, the weather was not that hot but I felt very dirsty . Tomorrow we plan to reach Luntai which is 133km from here on G314 road.This road will lead us all the way to Kashi.