Month: April 2012

28 Apr 2012
Sticky Post By Posted in China, Irkeshtam Pass, Kashgar, North East South West by Bike, Photography, Photos, Photos of Bike, Photos of Eleanor, The Windbraker Carrots, video, Western China With 2 Comments Permalink

Day 3: Kashgar to Sary-Tash (with NESW by Bike)

Sticky Post By On April 28, 2012 With 2 Comments

March 27th 2012

We had to end early on Day 2 because Matt had fallen through the snow and had soaking wet feet. The road was flooded out and all bikes had to be pushed off road through about 2′ of snow. Matt going first, he fell into the water under and Lucas and I managed to just take a little dip.

Saving time and reserving some warmth in the tent, we all cuddled up in the boys tents. Oh god, the smell…never, in my life. We didn’t sleep very well…sardines in a cold stinky can.

But then morning arrives…

Poor Matt, is still ill. The boys spent a half an hour digging the stakes out of the ground and I spent the time digging my poor stove out of the frozen sand. Sucked.

This will be the last of tarmac…for a very very very long time.

We head on and it’s freezing. All the water from the day before is frozen. I cross the ice first, bust my…um…lady parts on my top tube. I alert the boys to what I’ve done…after I crawl out from under my bike and across the ice.

Then…not 15 minutes later as I’m pushing across some more ice, I slip and smack down on both knees. I’ll feel that for days…more like a week. ‘F you ice!

Turned out the be the wrong way, so we are fortunate enough to turn around and go back over the ice. This time I don’t bust my vah-gine.

My favorite part of the day…break time. And look at me…showing off my Spanish skills! Oh, sister…paleeeeeeeeeeese…shut up! I’m eating these jelly orange slices (candy) that Brandon and I were addicted to last summer. The brothers didn’t love them as much as I (and Brandon) do.

We finish up the day having good fun.

Then trying to find supplies in this shit hole of a town. Where this local tries to rip us off letting us sleep in his extra room. Instead, we go back to the restaurant for an extra bowl of noodles and set up camp in the dark on the the outskirts of town.

Riding solo has advantages, so does as a team. I work more when I’m solo…I laugh more when I’m with others. Perhaps stay a bit more sane with company too.

13 Apr 2012
Sticky Post By Posted in Irkeshtam Pass, Kashgar, Kyrgyzstan, North East South West by Bike, Photos, Photos of Bike, Photos of Eleanor, riding partner, The Windbraker Carrots With No Comments Permalink

March 25, 2012 – Day 1 of Kashgar to Sary-Tash

Sticky Post By On April 13, 2012 With No Comments


The newly united, and temporary, Team Windbraker Carrots.
Left to Right, “Captain”, “Supervisor”, and “Auntie” (later to be renamed to “Ice Face”).

It was a short, uneventful day. The roads in good condition and friendly folks along the way. We began the steady incline to the border.

I think one of the greatest things about being a cyclo (a person who uses a bike to tour/travel) is the fellow cyclos you meet. I’ve made so many friends from all over the world. After spending nearly 2 weeks with the Belgium brothers, I’ve come to love Brussels and have learned A LOT about Belgium. Granted, I already knew about the beer…but the price is nothing compared to those swank beer boutiques in NYC.

They would tell me about Belgium and ask me questions about the States. A lot of the info taken from movies and pop culture. It was good to have to opportunity to state Hollywood is a bunch of bullshit. Sharing cultures is amazing when traveling by 2 wheels.

Now I have 2 new little brothers and a home in Brussels! How rad…if I don’t say so myself.

The friends you make touring will last a lifetime. Also, you may even learn another language and culture. “merci gaste!”

12 Apr 2012
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Attention: All cyclists crossing FROM China to Kyrgyzstan

Sticky Post By On April 12, 2012 With 6 Comments

Must Read:

As of January 2012, you must get your Passport Exit Stamp approximately 160 km East of the China border. The city is called “Wuqia” and you must go through the Exit/Entry Station. This is for cyclists crossing FROM China to Kyrgyzstan.

If you arrive at the border without your Exit stamp, there is NO alternative but to return the 160km. The roads have been reported as patchy but I would report that they are some of the worst road conditions I have experienced. This was late winter/early spring with snow, morning ice, mud, iced mud, and roads being flooded out because of the melt. They are currently “working” on a new highway. When I say “working” it means everything has been torn up and some patches completed but I didn’t see ONE PERSON working on it during the week out there.

Wonderful camping opportunities, safe, and sparse population…and hundreds of wild camels.

Please pass this information along to others and repost on as many sites as possible.

The crossing is also closed on the weekends and there is very little to purchase in regards to supplies at the border. I suggest that you stock up on 7 days worth of supplies in Wuqia. This should get you to Sary-Tash Kyrgyzstan if the weather is GOOD. If the weather is bad, the Tajik truck drivers coming from Sary-Tash will give you breads, cookies, cans of tuna, or whatever they have in their truck. You won’t starve…but BE PREPARED.

12 Apr 2012
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You made me beautiful!

Sticky Post By On April 12, 2012 With No Comments

What can I say, Brent Mchugh!? You’ve played such a long, and important role in my life as one of my dearest friends. You’ve also been a boyfriend, art school/sketch buddy, a (sometimes overly) protector, and a light through dark times.

You were the one that helped me prepare my Freshman photo portfolio and you were the one standing next to me when I read my acceptance letter into the program and you were the one that took me out to celebrate after I finished my last course in Undergrad. You’ve always been there for me.

Love…oh, and “Your brain is the one with the shell on it!”

11 Apr 2012
Sticky Post By Posted in China, Irkeshtam Pass, Kyrgyzstan, North East South West by Bike, riding partner, The Silk Road, The Windbraker Carrots, video With No Comments Permalink

“Everybody’s Watching.”

Sticky Post By On April 11, 2012 With No Comments

March 24 2012
Our dinner together, in Kashgar Xinjiang, as the next morning “Team Windbraker Carrots” would be leaving for Kyrgyzstan.

This gives you a view of a traditional tea house in Kashgar and along the Silk Road. When I’m traveling by myself, it can be very uncomfortable walking into a restaurant of 20+ men and there I am…a solo foreign woman walking in. Talk about making the record skip…it sends the damn vinyl off the turntable into the wall.

11 Apr 2012
Sticky Post By Posted in China, Irkeshtam Pass, Kyrgyzstan, North East South West by Bike, riding partner, The Silk Road, The Windbraker Carrots, video With No Comments Permalink

“Everybody’s Watching.”

Sticky Post By On April 11, 2012 With No Comments

March 24 2012
Our dinner together, in Kashgar Xinjiang, as the next morning “Team Windbraker Carrots” would be leaving for Kyrgyzstan.

This gives you a view of a traditional tea house in Kashgar and along the Silk Road. When I’m traveling by myself, it can be very uncomfortable walking into a restaurant of 20+ men and there I am…a solo foreign woman walking in. Talk about making the record skip…it sends the damn vinyl off the turntable into the wall.

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Studio Address: Front Street Artist Studios

 

 

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