I woke up to a weather forecast of rain, and I hit the snooze button to wait for it to pass.
I should have just looked out the window because it’s a beautiful day.
The road started well and I assumed that I’d be riding on the same sort of nice tarmac as yesterday. Then it deteriorated badly to be one of the worst I’ve ever ridden on. It was alternately rocky, corrugated, potholed but at all times uncomfortable. I love a good dirt road but this one was hard on a loaded bike. And I shouldn’t complain, as I expected there’ll be a lot of this ahead.
I was expecting to spend most of the day on the G30, the freeway that I’d been riding beside since I left Urumqi. Bikes generally aren’t allowed on freeways here, but I’d read of cyclists riding along it recently without issues. So I was confident that I’d be ok.
One issue I have with Komoot, is that it won’t let you plan a ride that goes on a freeway regardless of the law. So I didn’t know how far today would be nor how much climbing. I did have the Komoot route taken by a Spanish / Australian guy called Jean.
I’m so appreciative. His route helped me navigate some confusing sections of this morning’s dirt road. One part on particular looked like he tried many alternatives and finally found a way through. I can feel his frustration. Luckily for me I simply looked at his route and sailed through. Well, it was more like bounced and bumped through.
I followed ithe road for 15kms and lifted the bike over a barrier and snuck into the expressway. It was bliss for another 13 kms. It was uphill at a steady 2, 3 or 4 percent and after the eastbound expressway bridge, crossed my road the police pulled me over. They were standing in the carpark near the bridge. They were really nice.
I rode back to the carpark to a group of police and a couple of their cars. I noticed that their language didn’t sound like Chinese. They were ethnic Kazahks living here. This Moment and I were packed into a police car and we took off on our way to Sayram Lake.
Unfortunately on the way we came across a car accident, so he jumped out and attended to it while I waited. He spoke some great English too, and dropped me off at the police check on entry to Sayram Lake. I was about 400 metres from the hotel.
It was a great outcome. After the tough road early, then a climb on the expressway, I had a free personal taxi to my destination.
Apparently, it’s a public holiday and bikes aren’t allowed on the expressway then. That means I may have some issues on Tuesday when I leave here. The guy today said that the police don’t get a break, so I’m hoping I can get away early enough and that tired police won’t bother me. After all, it’s a huge downhill.
