Compare this shot above with the the first group photo, shown below, taken in March when still in Greece. Some of the original faces are still there, but not all.

Links to other related posts are listed on the Crotos – BaltiCCycle page.

Dear Friends,

After 170 days of cycling we have finally reached Beijing… We are full of beautiful memories and have shared lots of experiences with people we have met on our way despite occasional hardships we have already forgotten.

We will continue to ride around Beijing and get in touch with more people during our last few days in China. We didn’t come here to see the Olympic Games even though we believe in the Olympic ideals and have tried to promote peace and cross-cultural communication all around as much as we could.

We wish to thank everyone who accompanied us on our wonderful voyage and hope to meet again in person somewhere in this tiny world!

Cycling is our way of approaching the world around us, and we are not planning on giving it up.
So, you may find us riding around somewhere in the near future (but after we take care of some unfinished things)…

Peace!

Links to other related posts are listed on the Crotos – BaltiCCycle page.

1 Since I last wrote about Accor Beijing there have been more short messages arriving on the AB Express Bank 雅京行快报, the last entries of 28^th July and 1^st August signifying the arrival of some of the team [possibly three] in Beijing. The entries are copied below -

• 雅京行抵京（8月1日）

• 发布时间: 2008-08-01 18:52 发布者: 雅京行 点击 17 评论 1

• 雅京行主队成员戴惟和刘佳于北京时间下午4时整抵达北京天安门广场，本次骑行雅典到北京的洲际骑行活动宣告顺利完成。还在西藏境内的莫汉艺由于将直抵汶川，近期不会到达北京。…

• 雅京行将于明日中午抵京（7月31日）

• 发布时间: 2008-07-31 20:30 发布者: 雅京行 点击 21 评论 0

• 雅京行主要成员将于明日（8月1日）中午抵达北京，完成自今年三月出发，骑行雅典到北京的雅京骑行活动。…

• 戴惟、刘佳到达大同（7月28日）

• 发布时间: 2008-07-30 20:20 发布者: 雅京行 点击 27 评论 0

• 我们到大同了，1号到京——戴惟…

• 阳健颖已抵达北京（7月28日）

• 发布时间: 2008-07-30 20:20 发布者: 雅京行 点击 31 评论 0

• 已到北京，骑了200公里，昨天骑了187公里，没搭车——阳健颖…

• 离大同100公里（7月27日）

• 发布时间: 2008-07-30 20:19 发布者: 雅京行 点击 6 评论 0

• 我和戴惟到离呼市90多公里的凉城了,附近有个传说很漂亮的岱海,明早去看,明天预计到大同100公里左右,山路——刘佳…

• 阳健颖抵达铁成乡（7月25日）

• 发布时间: 2008-07-25 22:48 发布者: 雅京行 点击 25 评论 0

• 今天我到铁成乡了，骑了155公里，本打算到丰镇市，地图少标了50公里，明天到大同，还有三天就到北京了——阳健颖…

• 已到包头（7月22日）

• 发布时间: 2008-07-25 22:46 发布者: 雅京行 点击 18 评论 0

• 今天我到包头了，骑了135公里——阳健颖…

• 已到乌拉特前旗（7月21日）

• 发布时间: 2008-07-25 22:44 发布者: 雅京行 点击 14 评论 0

• 今天到乌拉特前旗，骑了150公里——阳健颖…

• 已到蹬口（7月19日）

• 发布时间: 2008-07-20 23:25 发布者: 雅京行 点击 27 评论 0

• 从109转到110了，今天到蹬口，骑了152公里，已经到内蒙古，没看到草原，只看到沙漠，明天与刘佳汇合——阳健颖…

• 到达惠农（7月18日）

• 发布时间: 2008-07-19 19:02 发布者: 雅京行 点击 20 评论 0

• 今天骑了110公里到了惠农，明天出宁夏到内蒙古，大概后天与刘佳汇合——阳健颖…

• 到达银川（7月16日）

• 发布时间: 2008-07-16 20:26 发布者: 雅京行 点击 30 评论 0

• 今天到达银川市，骑了140公里，准备在这休息一天，遇到黄仁义，就是环华的一个人，呼吁举办环华比赛，第二次环华，行程25000公里——阳健颖…

• 到达中宁（7月15日）

• 发布时间: 2008-07-15 20:04 发布者: 雅京行 点击 31 评论 0

• 昨天白银到宁夏兴仁164公里，今天到中宁100公里，明天计划到银川…

• 到达白银（7月13日）

• 发布时间: 2008-07-15 19:58 发布者: 雅京行 点击 34 评论 0

• 昨天在兰州休整一天，今天到白银了，骑了快一百公里，一直下雨，本打算骑170公里，但淋湿后太冷就没赶路，大概过些天刘佳会与我们汇合——阳健颖…

• 到达兰州（7月11日）

• 发布时间: 2008-07-15 19:57 发布者: 雅京行 点击 22 评论 0

• 阳建颖和戴维，今天从西宁到兰州，路面起伏，逆风，216公里。

2 And Babelfish translations are given here -

• The elegant Beijing line arrives Beijing (on August 1)

  Constructs Ying and David positive, today from Xining to Lanzhou, road surface fluctuation, against the wind, 216 kilometers.

  Issues the time: 2008-08-01 18:52 Promulgator: Elegant Beijing line Clicks 17 comments 1

• Elegant Beijing good home team member Dai Wei and Liu Jia in the Beijing standard time at exactly 4:00 pm arrives at Beijing Tiananmen Square, this time rides a line of Athens intercontinental to ride the line of active announcement to Beijing to complete smoothly. Also in Tibet domestic Chinese skill not, because will go straight to Wenchuan, in the near future will not arrive at Beijing. …

• Elegant Beijing about to will arrive Beijing in tomorrow noon (on July 31)

• Issues the time: 2008-07-31 20:30 Promulgator: Elegant Beijing line Clicks 21 comments 0

• An elegant Beijing line of leading member (on August 1) the noon will arrive at Beijing in tomorrow, completes embarks from March, rides a line of Athens to ride a line of activity to Beijing’s elegant Beijing. …

• Dai Wei, Liu Jia arrive at Datong (on July 28)

• Issues the time: 2008-07-30 20:20 Promulgator: Elegant Beijing line Clicks 27 comments 0

• We to Datong, – - have worn 1 to Beijing only…

• Positive healthy Ying arrived at Beijing (on July 28)

• Issues the time: 2008-07-30 20:20 Promulgator: Elegant Beijing line Clicks 31 comments 0

• Arrived at Beijing, has ridden 200 kilometers, yesterday has ridden 187 kilometers, has not travelled by vehicle – - positive healthy Ying…

• To the Datong 100 kilometers (on July 27)

• Issues the time: 2008-07-30 20:19 Promulgator: Elegant Beijing line Clicks 6 comments 0

• I and wore only arrive to the Huhhot more than 90 kilometer Liangcheng, the nearby had the fable very attractive Dai sea, tomorrow morning looked, tomorrow will estimate about the Datong 100 kilometers, mountain road – - Liu Jia…

• Positive healthy Ying arrives at iron Cheng Xiang (on July 25)

• Issues the time: 2008-07-25 22:48 Promulgator: Elegant Beijing line Clicks 25 comments 0

• Today I to iron Cheng Xiang, have ridden 155 kilometers, this plan Feng Town city, the map few sign 50 kilometers, tomorrow arrived at Datong, but also three days arrived at Beijing – - positive healthy Ying…

• Already to Baotou (on July 22)

• Issues the time: 2008-07-25 22:46 Promulgator: Elegant Beijing line Clicks 18 comments 0

• Today I to Baotou, have ridden 135 kilometer – - positive healthy Ying…

• Already to the Urad front banner (on July 21)

• Issues the time: 2008-07-25 22:44 Promulgator: Elegant Beijing line Clicks 14 comments 0

• Today to the Urad front banner, has ridden 150 kilometer – - positive healthy Ying…

• Already to pedal mouth (on July 19)

• Issues the time: 2008-07-20 23:25 Promulgator: Elegant Beijing line Clicks 27 comments 0

• From 109 changed to 110, today to the pedal mouth, has ridden 152 kilometers, already arrived at Inner Mongolia, has not seen the prairie, only saw the desert, tomorrow will converge with Liu Jia – - positive healthy Ying…

• Arrives at Hui nung (on July 18)

• Issues the time: 2008-07-19 19:02 Promulgator: Elegant Beijing line Clicks 20 comments 0

• Today has ridden 110 kilometers to Hui nung, tomorrow will leave Ningxia to arrive at Inner Mongolia, will converge probably the day after tomorrow with Liu Jia – - positive healthy Ying…

• Arrives at Yinchuan (on July 16)

• Issues the time: 2008-07-16 20:26 Promulgator: Elegant Beijing line Clicks 30 comments 0

• Today arrives at Yinchuan, has ridden 140 kilometers, prepares to rest for one day in this, meets the yellow justice and humanity, is a link China’s person, appealed that conducts link China to compete, second link China, traveling schedule 25000 kilometer – - positive healthy Ying…

• Arrives at rather (on July 15)

• Issues the time: 2008-07-15 20:04 Promulgator: Elegant Beijing line Clicks 31 comments 0

• Yesterday is popular the kernel 164 kilometers the silver to Ningxia, today to the rather 100 kilometers, tomorrow will plan Yinchuan…

• Arrives at the silver (on July 13)

• Issues the time: 2008-07-15 19:58 Promulgator: Elegant Beijing line Clicks 34 comments 0

• Yesterday in Lanzhou recuperation one day, today to the silver, has ridden the quick 100 kilometers, has rained, this plan rides 170 kilometers, but after dripping wet, too Leng Jiu has not hurried along, crosses day Liu Jia to be able probably to converge – - positive healthy Ying with us…

• Arrives at Lanzhou (on July 11)

• Issues the time: 2008-07-15 19:57 Promulgator: Elegant Beijing line Clicks 22 comments 0

3 The blog hasn’t been updated since the posting at 2008.6.28 19:22, so there is no detail to add. So after a few months of struggling against unexpected mishaps and problems, hitching on vehicles, buses and trains plus some impressive daily mileages [kilomtreages?] riding across China, some of the team have arrived in Beijing and others [see 2008.8.1 entry] will not arrive at all. At least they are all still intact.

Despite all the short-cuts taken, what the group have done represents a substantial achievement; so far as I’m aware, none of the riders had ever travelled outside China and with their limited knowledge and no experience of the outside world problems and mishaps were inevitable; it was interesting to see how they responded. However, anyone who enters into a venture with such grandiloquent aims as Accor Beijing is inviting very close scrutiny and potentially leaving himself exposed to some sharp criticism when things do not match up to the advanced publicity. The project was riddled through with flaws, over-optimistic aims, ideology and symbolism, some of which could be put down to youthful zeal, but the rest can only be attributed to naivety and misinformation. I began watching the progress of the team in March with a mixture of admiration for their spirit of adventure, and envy at not being able to join in, plus a few doubts. Unfortunately my worst fears were realised when things began going wrong [before they had even left the Mediterranean] and what started out as a grand tour of Asia, with a not insignificant hint of triumphalism, soon degenerated into a desperate struggle to reach home ground at any cost. I’m sure some of the riders will have learnt much and benefited greatly from the experience but, I suspect, there are others amongst them who are even more convinced that the evil outside world needs to be kept at bay.

Links to other related posts can be found on the Accor Beijing page.

Days 135-137 – A few punctured tires and other repairs impede progress but by the afternoon of the third day they have reached Wuwei.

“We wandered around the city by bike, found a nice park to walk around till the evening. Danae is exhilarated to have all this fruit around her. She is now sure she will not be hungry anymore… In the evening Danae joined an open dancing session in the main city square where people often gather to share activities (day 137)”

Days 138-141 – From Wuwei they press on uphill to the next resting place in a pass, almost 3,000 metres above sea level, and then to Tianzh, the county town of the area. On day 140 Richard, who has been suffering for a few days, becomes too ill to ride on and is taken by taxi to a hospital in Lanzhou, the next major stop. Road accidents involving large trucks are not uncommon and they come across a fatal one involving a motorcycle rider. Is this a sign they are getting nearer the more industrialised parts of China? Perhaps not yet as they comment on the rural scenery around them.

“We can’t help but notice how Chinese people keep themselves busy in the fields around us. 70% of the labor force works in agriculture. Instead of using machinery they use their bare hands to reap the wheat, to plow the land, to transport the goods by merely pulling and pushing old wooden wagons.“

Until new buildings appear, and for the first time in months they find themselves stuck in heavy traffic as they are now in the city of Lanzhou, capital of Gansu province. Here the party takes a day’s rest to go walking in the parks and up the mountains surrounding the city.

For the next phase of the journey Vasilios and Danae take a different route to the rest of the group as they want to visit an area to the south of the Silk Road. They expect to rendezvous 9 days later in Xi’an. Before leaving Lanzhou they visit Richard, who was taken ill a few days earlier and is now in hospital; he has received surgery [no explanation what the op. Was – I hope Richard knows] and has been told he can cycle again after 2 weeks recovery. Monica opts to join their sub-party.

“The same night we are hosted at a toll booth officers’ building next to the highway. Amazing hospitality!!! (day 142) “

The route takes them through some very attractive and hilly countryside, a lot of it over 2000 metres above MSL. To reach their destination city, Tianshui at 1700 metres above MSL level, they descend for several kilometres and passing through tunnels to get there. One room for 3 of them at a hotel costs 17 Euros – but what is that in yuan?

MaijiShan is the next stop where do spend some time walking up and down the karst hills, visiting caves, grottoes and lakes. Although the occasional downpours make them wet and cold, they find it all worthwhile.

Reluctantly continuing their ride they pass through more high ground and valleys before beginning their descent towards Xi’an. Arriving in Xiangyang, a city on the outskirts of Xi’an, their first problem is finding accommodation but their luck holds -

“Finding a sleeping place in an urban area is quite difficult. We are quite lucky to find a real estate agency – they sell apartments at newly constructed high-rises – where a couple of elderly guards do their best to accommodate us. They give us a small room with beds, and Li Xiong and Fan Xin, two agents who were working till late, invite us to dinner. We couldn’t have imagined a better ending for our day. We have experienced Chinese hospitality on numerous occasions despite our difficulty to verbally communicate with them (day 149).”

Day 150 they enter Xi’an and rejoin the main group at a hotel. There are approximately 1400 kilometres and 2 weeks remaining.

Stopping off for a short visit outside Xi’an they visit the Qin Terracotta Army before continuing towards HuaShan – one of the five sacred mountains of China. They note that riders are becoming sick due to the change in climate, from dry desert conditions to high temperatures and high humidity. At HuaShan they buy a cheap backpack and then spend a day climbing the mountain. Over the years tracks up the mountain have been cut into the rocks and the steepest places have chains permanently fixed in place.

“We hiked for endless hours, visited all of the main peaks on the mountain and descended late in the evening just before dusk. Our legs would suffer for days since we are not using the same muscles while cycling. This was one of the best experiences we have so far had. (day 155)”

Three more days on the road and they arrive in Luoyang, Henan province.

“Finally, downhill all the way to Luoyang . Even though we are still tired we manage to cover 89km till our hotel, where we will have a rest day. The road is full of industries, coal mines, trucks, and our faces and lungs are covered with black shit – according to Danae – by the end of the day. The hotel showers were busy today! (day 158)”

Links to the pages are – Lanzhou, Xi’an, and Luoyang

Links to the photo galleries for Lanzhou, Xi’an, and Luoyang – all highly recommended.

Links to other related posts are listed on the Crotos – BaltiCCycle page.

]]> http://athenstobeijing2008.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/a2b-%e2%80%93-crotos-from-lanzhou-to-luoyang/feed/ 0 flotsam http://athenstobeijing2008.wordpress.com/2008/07/11/a2b-crotos-to-zhangye/ http://athenstobeijing2008.wordpress.com/2008/07/11/a2b-crotos-to-zhangye/#comments Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:14:35 +0000 克莱夫 http://chamberoftenthousandflowers.wordpress.com/?p=223 ]]> Another posting from Crotos in one week! Written by Vasilios Mesitides and posted on 2008.7.10.

The narrative begins at Tung Huang [Dunhuang] with their visit to the Mogao caves, murals and carvings. [days 126-7] There is small problem with a cycle lock – key is missing – so it must be cut open, which apparently only takes a few seconds. How secure was that lock?

On the highway they come across a few examples of Chinglish roadsigns – the effort to tidy up translated signs, menus, etc during the last few years only covered Beijing and the other Olympic venues – which give some amusement “Do Not Drive Tiredly”, sensible enough advice even if not perfectly expressed, and “Do Drunken Driving”, perhaps meaning “No Drunken Driving”.

At Jiayuguan they meet a group of French cyclists, mentioned in the last Crotos posting; all 102 of them! What we didn’t learn last time is that they are accompanied by several large trucks carrying showers, cooking facilities, satellite TV and other odds and ends. The group all ride together in pelotons, wearing the same jersey and they have been doing this since Paris. Does this uniformity sound slightly Chinese?

After Jiayuguan Danae’s sickness returns and she spends a day in the van while Maciej, the Polish co-driver rides for the day [so they haven't lost their minivan]. Gradually the desert scenery is replaced by a greener landscape in the form of the afforestation plantations in Gansu.

“Even though not fully recuperated Danae ventures ahead on her bike again! Two nice campsites by water canals –this time without any flooding – gradually mark the end of the sand and the increase of fertile areas. Gansu province has made a significant effort to get rid of the desert by planting millions of trees and creating a highly sophisticated irrigation system. (days 132-133) “

Finally they end up in Zhangye, a small [by Chinese standards] city ‘in the middle of nowhere’ where they are struck by its modernity, neatness and cleanliness – and by the messages on hoardings, TV and everywhere else.

“Their television channels insist on portraying consumer and western influenced role models. It is strange to see so many ads for diets and slim-down products in a country where people have traditionally had healthy attitudes and diets. Perhaps we are experiencing a new trend due to globalization. At the same time communist ideas are present throughout: lots of propaganda that touches the common man through music, theater and the media: images of the recent earthquake disaster in Sichuan are constantly projected along with melodies sung by choirs and members of the public emphasizing the central role – the courage and self-sacrifice – that police and the military have had during the rescue efforts (day 134).”

Probably more of the propaganda to come in future weeks. Much more.

Links to other related posts are listed on the Crotos – BaltiCCycle page.

明早到西宁（6月9日）

发布时间: 2008-07-09 22:30 发布者: 雅京行 点击 15 评论 0

正坐车往西宁，昨天到的格尔木，大概明天早上到，准备从西宁开始认真骑了，现在在车上，明天找网吧选些照片发上来——阳健颖…

萨迦古镇（6月9日）

发布时间: 2008-07-09 21:41 发布者: 雅京行 点击 12 评论 0

今天已到萨迦古镇，到拉萨后可能坐火车赶上戴维汇合——刘佳…

今天到沱沱河（7月6日）

发布时间: 2008-07-07 20:54 发布者: 雅京行 点击 23 评论 0

今天到沱沱河，骑了93公里，感觉身体不行了。。。都骑的很累，明天准备骑150公里…

明早到唐古拉山口

发布时间: 2008-07-04 21:17 发布者: 雅京行 点击 28 评论 0

“我们明天早上到唐古拉山口，骑到雁石坪，准备骑到格尔木再搭车到西宁继续骑”——阳健颖…

我到吉隆（7月3日）

发布时间: 2008-07-04 21:15 发布者: 雅京行 点击 31 评论 0

“我在吉隆 明天或者后天到老定日，岗嘎”——刘佳…

今日到达拉萨（7月1日）

发布时间: 2008-07-04 21:15 发布者: 雅京行 点击 24 评论 0

今日到达拉萨，准备在拉萨待两天。刘佳在后面几百公里处。老莫已经到达尼泊尔，他打算多玩几天。…

. . and Babel Fish translations of them.

Tomorrow morning to Xining (on June 9)

Issues the time: 2008-07-09 22:30 Promulgator: Elegant Beijing line Clicks 7 comments 0

Is going by car toward Xining, Golmud which yesterday arrived, will prepare from Xining to start in the morning probably tomorrow to ride earnestly, now on the vehicle, will look for the Internet bar to choose a picture tomorrow to send – - positive healthy Ying…

Sa’gya old town (on June 9)

Issues the time: 2008-07-09 21:41 Promulgator: Elegant Beijing line Clicks 7 comments 0

Today already to the Sa’gya old town, after Lhasa possibly rides the train to catch up with David to converge – - Liu Jia…

Today to Tuotuohe (on July 6)

Issues the time: 2008-07-07 20:54 Promulgator: Elegant Beijing line Clicks 22 comments 0

Today arrives at Tuotuohe, has ridden 93 kilometers, felt that the body is not good. . . Rides is very tired, tomorrow will prepare to ride 150 kilometers…

Tomorrow morning to the Tanggula shankou

Issues the time: 2008-07-04 21:17 Promulgator: Elegant Beijing line Clicks 26 comments 0

“we to the Tanggula shankou, will ride the yenshihp’ing in the morning tomorrow, the preparation ride to Golmud travel by vehicle again to Xining continue to ride” – - positive healthy Ying…

I to Kirong (on July 3)

Issues the time: 2008-07-04 21:15 Promulgator: Elegant Beijing line Clicks 29 comments 0

“I tomorrow or day after tomorrow to will always decide in Kirong the date, the hillock loud snapping sound” – - Liu Jia…

Today arrives at Lhasa (on July 1)

Issues the time: 2008-07-04 21:15 Promulgator: Elegant Beijing line Clicks 24 comments 0

Today arrives at Lh@sa, prepares to treat for two days in Lh@sa. Liu Jia in the following several hundred kilometers place. Old not already arrived at Nepal, he planned that plays for several days.

The gist of it is that Liu Jia, who separated from the group in India to visit Mumbai, is still a few hundred kilometres behind everyone else, somewhere approaching Lhasa, but is planning to catch a train in Lh@sa and rendezvous with the others further on.

For some peculiar reason Liu Jia is referred to as ‘Old’ and he refers to Chen Ke as ‘David’.

The remainder of the group rested in Lhasa for two days and are now in Xining, not far from the eastern Qinghai-Gansu border, a distance of 1200 kilometres. This would be a creditable ride, over many mountain passes and in one week, but at least half of it has been covered by motor vehicle, which takes some of the shine off it. A look at this page gives the distances between towns and cities on this route – but four or five hundred kilometres of mountainous riding is a reasonable achievement.

Links to other related posts can be found on the Accor Beijing page.

We have two blog postings this week, one from Carlotta and the other from Vasilios and Danae. One thing to note is that the group appears to have divided into small sub-groups and even a few sub-sub-groups. This is just speculation but possibly they have given up their support vehicle as they couldn’t bring the original one across the border into China and were compelled to hire another and a Chinese driver [all extra expense].

Date of posting: 2008.7.9 11:38 – Carlotta tells of her experience of travelling through Turpan and the effect of the heat; as they go downwards into the Turpan Basin the temperature goes up even more, into the mid-40s and beyond; apparently two people, Bob and Scott [?], left her group because of the ill-effects. Then onward through oasis villages until they reach the mountains when the scenery changes – although the sandstorms do not. One interesting nocturnal episode occurred while camping near some livestock, a tractor appeared during the night and some of the sheep were taken away, probably stolen. Cattle and sheep rustling lives on! Eventually she reaches Anxi for a one day stop and takes a bus to Tun Huang to visit the ancient caves of Mogao and see some paintings and carvings. At Jiaquan they stay in a 5-star hotel and the group shares one room for 16 euros each; sounds expensive. Here they meet a young man from Germany you has studied photography in Beijing for the last 2 years but is now walking home to Germany – I wonder how long he intends to take over that. At this point they are behind the rest of the group and so at a roadside cafe near Zhangye they hitch a lift with a truck driver and cover the next 70 kilometres in just over one hour. Here they stay for another two days, resting eating and taking in the local music. At Shandan, the next stop, they meet a group of French cyclists travelling to Beijing. The French group have a Chinese guide with them who is able to assist in finding a suitable hotel for them and then somewhere for sampling the local dishes. At Wuwei during the evening meal they are approached by a number of local people who invite them to eat [and drink] more. Everything ends at about midnight with everyone happily inebriated. Late rise the next morning and others from the group arrive in the afternoon. On to Anyuan, at about 2,2200 metres altitude, where they stay the night with a local family whose daughter speaks some English. The following day they are invited to go to the local school to meet the pupils and teachers – how many more times will this happen?

Another two days riding gets them to Lanzhou, Gansu.

Date of posting: 8.7.2008 – Vasilios and Danae – after Kuqa life on the road returns to normal and the couple consider catching a train to Xi’an and making up the miles in a more pleasant part of China

“The following days are not any different than the previous ones. Constant headwind while riding on the outskirts of Taklamakan desert with occasional oasis towns that serve as truck stops – restaurants, mechanics, sparse hotels. The endless monotonous road and the high temperatures have affected most of us… We have been thinking about changing our route by taking a train to Xian and cycling the same distance in a greener part of China thus leaving the group behind “

However, they decide to press on and cover the gap of nothingness between themselves and Hami as fast as possible. The problems, include constant headwind, sandstorms and poor food. Even the fruit is not up to standard.

“Even the local fruit doesn’t seem to taste as good as the ones we have been used to in Greece. While eating a melon Vasilios comments to a fellow cyclist : “that’s the worst you can get in Greece. If you buy a watermelon such as this one from a merchant you can rightfully smash it on his head. You should definitely visit Greece.” One has to wonder whether the taste of fruit is as bland as we think or perhaps this is how we feel in general due to the monotony in our surroundings.”

Somewhere beyond Hami the treeline and shade appear and they meet up with Janice and Doug [from the USA] and share “one of the crappiest guesthouses, in a room full of cigarette butts and foul smell that almost keeps you awake at night (day 123).”

And then to Anxi.

Links to other related posts are listed on the Crotos – BaltiCCycle page.

]]> http://athenstobeijing2008.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/a2b-crotos-across-the-taklamakan-and-beyond/feed/ 1 flotsam http://athenstobeijing2008.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/a2b-accor-beijing-a-partial-recap-plus-the-latest-news/ http://athenstobeijing2008.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/a2b-accor-beijing-a-partial-recap-plus-the-latest-news/#comments Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:59:15 +0000 克莱夫 http://chamberoftenthousandflowers.wordpress.com/?p=196 ]]> Quite a substantial change has occurred on the Accor Beijing website. A number of postings have appeared on the Forum which were not visible before; posting dates span from mid-June to the present– there has been a persistent page not available message for some time – and the weblog has come back to life with entries covering dates from April up to the middle of June, but the dates of posting are in June. Some of these may have been entered by Yang Jie, the rider who returned to China some time back, but others have been made by the team members which suggests they have reached a large city in which the internet is available and in which they are able to find their way around.

On the Forum are four entries from someone who uses the Yahoo name amomo66 – I suspect this is Mo Hanyi as the journey described is solo and begins in Pakistan. For most of his time in Pakistan he was escorted by the police and, judging by the narrative and one of the photos, that he took a lift in the back of at least one of the vehicles – see here. Another entry describes his experiences at the Pakistan Indian border, where he is ordered back to Lahore. He eventually crosses by train. Two points which remain unexplained are why he separated from the rest of the group and how did he find his way from Pakistan to India ahead of everyone else.

One forum entry, post dated 2008.6.16, covers Yang Jie’s departure from the tour. This gives details of his return journey from Erzincan to Istanbul [Turkey] but doesn’t say why he had to leave – click here for the entry and apply Google-analytics for a translation.

“Because of personal reasons I have already forced the end of April from Turkey in the eastern city of Istanbul Erzizan return home. “ – is the opening line [Google translated].

The journey through Iran, as reported on the Express Bank entries, was a mixture of cycling and bus rides but the weblog makes no mention of travelling by bus. The same applies to Pakistan which was mixture of cycling, bus and train journeys and the same in India. Here is an entry, posted on the 2008.6.15, covering part of the journey from part of Turkey to Tehran, Iraq, back in April. Unfortunately it is just a list of dates with occasional place-names and gives little indication as to how the tour is progressing.

One piece of insight is given in a weblog entry for ‘India ZTS’, posted 2008.6.15 and describes the group’s encounters with the Pakistan – India border. They must go back to Lahore to catch a bus but on returning to Lahore they find they do not have enough money between them to get tickets for themselves, bicycles and luggage. This is the Google translation of the passage.

“老板支我去找小老板。 小老板很小气，我跟他磨了半天，他见我赖着不走的样子，就打了个电话。电话那头很爽快的全免了我们的行李费用。后来又见到大老板。 原来大老板事先误会我们是日本人。当搞清楚状况后，当即免了 1200 卢比的行李费用。 中国和巴基斯坦的友谊又见一斑。”

“To return to Lahore, ride the bus and found that all our money together, not enough and the cost of a bike, so I go to the boss representations. I look for small employers with the boss. Owner of a small-small, I wear a long time with him, he Laizhuobuzou I see the look on Dale Ge telephone. Tel character of the very readily free our baggage costs. Later to see big bosses. The original owner prior misunderstanding we are Japanese. When the clear position, immediately free the 1,200 rupees baggage costs. The friendship between China and Pakistan see also evident.” [now translate the translation ]

Unfortunately the translation does not explain how they made up for the shortage of money.

Two entries on the weblog, posted 2008.6.15, are written by Li Xiaoya and describe the journey of herself and Yang Jianying from Delhi, India, to the India-Nepal border. One little gem which comes to light at the border is a mysterious transit fee -100 rupees each – which they must pay to cross. They plead that they have no money and on declaring they are students are allowed through free. Click here then translate with Google-analytics. Is this an official charge, or someone making something extra on the side?

And finally back to the latest Express Bank entries -

Date of posting 2008.6.30

“昨天到的日喀则，今天在这修整了一天，明天出发，准备到江孜，江孜是电影红河谷的拍摄地”——阳健颖

On the 28^th I went to Xigaze [Shigatse]and I expect to go to Gyangze Hong Hegu [Rikaze] on the 30th. – Yang Jianying

Date of posting 2008.6.30

“今天没到江孜，到白郎了，自从到高原上来了后每天大家都只能骑个50，60公里了，都骑不动了。”——阳健颖

The Google translation for this entry is indecipherable to me but the gist of the message is that he did not go to Gyangze, as planned.

Date of posting 2008.6.30

今日雅京行到达浪卡子，预计7月1日可抵达到拉萨。由于长途跋涉高原，道路极其恶劣，海拔起伏较大，再次部分路段搭车。

The Google translation for this entry is almost equally confusing. There is a mention of someone arriving in Beijing, there is a comment on how bad the roads are, a mention of bus usage but the most important part of the message is that they expect to be in Lh@sa on the 1^st July.

Now that they are near ground they feel more comfortable with, possibly we shall hear of some actual cycling in the coming weeks.

Links to other related posts can be found on the Accor Beijing page.

]]> http://athenstobeijing2008.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/a2b-accor-beijing-a-partial-recap-plus-the-latest-news/feed/ 0 flotsam http://athenstobeijing2008.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/lents-new-gallery/ http://athenstobeijing2008.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/lents-new-gallery/#comments Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:45:29 +0000 克莱夫 http://chamberoftenthousandflowers.wordpress.com/?p=195 ]]> Click here to go straight to Joachim Lent’s new geotagged photogallery, with an array of pics which will take you all the way from Olympia to Kashgar.

Date of posting 2008-06-19 17:37

今天已进入中国樟木口岸。

On the 18^th they reached Zhangmu, the first town inside the Tib@t border.

Date of posting 2008.6.26 22:25

我们到定日了，这几天信号不好，在樟木因为圣火到拉萨，关卡不让过，待了两天，大概八九天后到拉萨。”——阳建颖

Posting on the 26^th is by Yang Jianying and announces that he/they[?] have arrived at Tingri/Dingri/Dhingri/定日 – choose your own spelling – and that he expects to take another 9 days to reach Lh@sa. Yang Jiangying and Li Xiaoya separated from the main group in Iran to fly to Delhi – but there is no indication if he is speaking of himself, the two of them or the re-united group. However, this means he has taken 1 week to travel from the border to Tingri and, if his forecast is correct, then he will have just over one month to complete the ride across China.

Links to other related posts can be found on the Accor Beijing page

]]> http://athenstobeijing2008.wordpress.com/2008/06/27/a2b-accor-beijing-into-the-himalayas/feed/ 0 flotsam