Approximately 2 weeks. I’ve loaded up on some new winter gear, including a new stove, 50mm lens, and hopefully will be obtaining a “stormproof” tent over here in China. Only weighs 1800grams! Excellent since my winter jackets are going to be adding some bulk.
Picked up the bike from the shop yesterday. New handlebars, raised…and everything ready to go!
A couple of months ago, I received a post on this blog. It was extremely unkind and making all kinds of personal attacks to me. I was really confused and hurt, and felt really awful that I maybe had done something to make someone feel the need to bash me – anonymously.
On Friday, I received another personal attack via email. It was sent from someone that is related by genetics. I was caught completely off guard but know that he suffers from some serious emotional/mental illnesses. Honestly, I didn’t know that people of this caliber of evil and hate really existed…but they do.
I was able to put the two together and realized that the comment on the blog was from the same person that sent me the email. My heart rests knowing that it wasn’t some random person that I offended…but rather, someone looking for reasons to lash out at me.
He will not receive an email in response, as someone who walked out of the lives of my family years ago, he is no one. But, if he decides he needs to troll this blog to find ammunition for hate…please know, I will pray that your soul can find some peace, solitude, and happiness in this life and the next. Hopefully sooner than later, for the sake of your 3 children.
Check out the “Sponsors” page for links to view and purchase limited edition prints.
See the new images posted on my portfolio site:
CLICK HERE TO BE REDIRECTED
Firstly, my experience is unique. I photographed what I experienced. I saw no guns in Tibet, I did in Ganzi and was quite fearful to pull out a camera. Propaganda is propaganda, from either side. I’ve seen obviously false photos from “Free Tibet” groups while China says the Tibetans are very happy with their situation.
(I omitted some snarky and assumption comments about these “people”. Then realized I was doing back to them what they did to me. So, deleted)
Everyone, no matter what side, question your sources. I did not have any intentions of hunting for murderous, anti-China images. This is my life and my camera and my love. What do these people want me to do? Jump in front of a firing squad?
I say this…boycott groups that are not well informed and spread lies even if they do support your thoughts and beliefs.
These fools don’t even know the facts, I NEVER EVER went to Lhasa. The closest I was about 250km North. Also, I don’t follow these people and only found out about this by looking at “@mentions”
New Items, Replacements:
Over Ankle Hiking Waterproof Boots – check
2 26 x 2.25 Nobbys – check
Sparrow Handlebars – check
Repaired Saddle – check
Seat Sandwich – check
Balaclava – check
Merino Wool Baselayers – check (-1 pair of leggings)
USA made toothbrushes – check
Lighting attachments for SB 600 – check
Hep A / Hep B booster – check
Replacement SRAM chain – check
Need a new stove, or at least more reliable (MSR WhisperLite International) and another pair of Merino Wool Leggings. Along with a 50mm f1.4 FX lens.
Just picked up an amazing’ly detailed map of Xinjiang…getting stoked and I can already feel that frigid air.
The young Tibetan man I fell in love with.
But then I rode my bike away…swooning.
Upon the turnback in Tibet and reaching my mileage goal (Which is a funny story. I thought I had told everyone it was 15,000 miles, so there was no celebration but more feelings of defeat) I was pretty set on resting the bike and getting a backpack for Xinjiang and the K’stans…because, well, winter is upon us.
If you don’t know anything about Xinjiang, it has 2 seasons…summer and winter. It’s famous for it’s wind and sand storms, i.e. blowing a train car of the tracks and I heard a story of a British cyclist being killed in a wind storm taking the Southern Route of the Silk Road (NW Qinghai) in no mans land.
Well, I have 2 weeks until I set off. In the meantime I’m getting a TB and Hep test…as I’m still physically not up to par. They recommend people that hangout with homeless people get tested. I WAS living on dirt floors with nomads. Also, TB kills a lot of people in Asia and Africa. I had a lot of Tibetans coughing near me, on me, snotty nosed kids sneezing and their mucous getting on me, or mixing my tsampa with their bare hands. (They also don’t use toilet paper)
Also, I’m having new wheels built, my repaired Brooks saddle is on it’s way from England, and…I bought replacement handlebars. The Soma Sparrow 560mm.
The idea of hitchhiking around Xinjiang is exciting because it’s different and the idea of walking around without worries of my bike getting stolen OR broken…is great. BUT, the idea of being in an automobile passing by nomads and locals…tears my heart apart. Also, I don’t have my get-away ride anymore and it’s a little more difficult to go meandering through open’ness or getting up mountains. The photos people love, and I love, are taken from when I was solo and invited in with people. Being in a car, bus…that’s not going to happen…or maybe it will?
I’ll be monitoring the weather conditions every day and there is a storm coming in, maybe I just stay put. Whether on bike or foot. My Work Visa doesn’t expire until Jan 28th, so in all reality…I could spend winter in Xinjiang, head into Kyrgyzstan (Jan 27th) and be in Kazakhstan in early March (that’s close enough to Spring to not freeze, right?).
I’m hoping someone out there, in cyber world, can offer some advice or wisdom…or an answer will come to me from the heavens.
In the meantime, I hope you take a look at the photographs for sale…I really really need some winter gear. Or you could mail me your old stuff.
Godspeed.
