I'll be heading west from Beijing, through Western China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and on through Europe and plan to be back in London by mid August 2008.
I will be taking a boat across the Caspian Sea and will probably end up on a train or two, but the aim is to get home from Hong Kong overland...
5 comments:
Wow, that is going to be amazing Emma. Keep us informed on how the last couple of weeks of preperation (big rides??) go :)
Chris
Cool plan!
Have you seen these books?
- Long Ride for a Pie,
by (Dunedin writer) Tim Mulliner
A cyclist’s epic, world-crossing road trip is presented from the perspective of a base culinary urge. What is it about New Zealand that most expats and travellers miss most? Beautiful clean beaches? The majestic Southern Alps? Mum? For Tim Mulliner, after nearly four years of working in Britain, it was the experience of sinking his teeth into a proper Kiwi pie – of the sort ‘…that melted in your mouth and left tiny flakes of pastry stuck to your lips, a small shower of crumbs on your shirt, and a nice warm, satisfied feeling in the stomach’. So Tim jumped on his 27-speed bike to head across western Europe, eastern Europe, Turkey, India, Iran, Pakistan, Tibet, China, South-East Asia and Australia, and finally home to New Zealand. Along the way he collected a series of unforgettable memories and superb photographs.
http://www.newhollandpublishers.co.nz/display.php?id=661
Llamas & Empanadas, by (Wellington writer) Eleanor Meecham
http://www.penguin.co.nz/wawcs0131139/idDetails=165/Meecham,%20Eleanor%20%20%E2%80%93%20author%20of%20Llamas%20&%20Empanadas
"In 2004, in order to 'de-wimp' herself, Eleanor Meecham embarked on a solo journey by bicycle through parts of South America. Llamas and Empanadas is her personal account of this trip. Paralleling her actual journey was her personal odyssey, as she came to terms with the death of her brother. Ignoring those who insisted that cycling alone in South America was not only inadvisable but possibly suicidal, Eleanor ventured unprepared into the wilds of Argentina, Chile and Bolivia. Travelling on Vagabunda, her trusty bicycle of twelve years, she crossed the Andes twice, pedalled through the barren but beautiful wastes of Patagonia and cycled to the world's highest city, Potosi, via its largest salt desert. Despite battling ferocious headwinds, the draining effects of altitude, a malfunctioning knee, she couldn't help but be charmed by the countries she travelled through and the folk singers, tea-slurping truck drivers and flirtatious policemen she met along the way. Llamas and Empanadas is illustrated with Eleanor's fabulous photographs."
Adventure Cycle-touring Handbook
http://www.adventurecycle-touringhandbook.com/
The Adventure Cycle-touring Handbook is not just another bicycle touring book; it’s oriented towards adventure riding in places the old books would not often take you to. It’s a look at contemporary bike touring and the kind of bikes people actually ride rather than just traditional touring bikes, fine though those often are. And it has many different experiences and viewpoints represented, through the contributions of riders from all over the world, writing about their bikes and about the places they have toured. The accent is very much on riding the Developing World rather than familiar bike-touring routes in Western Europe or elsewhere.
Includes useful advice on crossing China and the 'stans.
Let me know if you want a read. Good luck!
patrickmorgan1***at***gmail.com
Well Emma what a huge adventure this is going to be for you! As a mum with a daughter about your age I can fully understand your mum worrying about you. My daughter went to Canada for two weeks and I worried! All I can say is take good care of yourself and keep safe. I am looking foward to reading about you adventures on here. Best wishes . Lindy
I look forward to sharing your trip with my Year 9 Social Studies class. We will be studying 'Our World' in which the students have to learn about different continents and countries and why places are significant to people. Your planned route over The Silk Road will complement the work we do on mapping skills and will give the students an ideal focus.
All the best for your adventure.
Hey.
The trip sounds awesome and almost a mirror to what we're doing in July. Check out www.doyoudoairports.com and drop us a line. I'm working in Wellington too right now so be good to hear from you
Post a Comment