Photos of Eleanor

01 May 2012
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Day 4: Kashgar to Sary-Tash with NESWbyBike (arrive to the China/Kyrgyz border)

Sticky Post By On May 1, 2012 With 4 Comments

March 28th 2012 – PLEASE NOTE THE DATE AND THESE POSTS ARE OF THE PAST.

Good Morning!

The day starts off well. Matt is feeling better and the roads are still paved, for a little while. The weather gets pretty damn warm during the day too.

We stop for lunch on the side of a little river. I, “Auntie”, cooks for the group. That’s the woman’s job, right? After eating we have a delightful visitor.

In just a few kilometers we will lose tarmac…this will be just the very (easy) beginning to a horrific ending.

Traffic

Later in the day, the ice melt causes all the roads to become mud. Thick, slushy mud. We are either pushing our bikes through 4cm of mud or slipping on snow and ice. As the sun begins to set, we know we are going to have everything freezing back on us.

The descent into the border town. Roads here are in exceptional condition. The boys bikes are caked with mud, mine not so. Thank you Soma Saga…I love you.

We make it to the border right before sunset. Kyrgyzstan! Tomorrow…or so we think…

The border town is shit. There is no where to buy supplies. We all decided to go to bed after finding some naan to eat. Nothing wrong with a little hunger, knowing we are out of China tomorrow…again, or so we think.

Sleep well, as the room is flooded with the smell of wet socks and boots. Damn it Lucas…I wish you had done laundry…Bangkok to Bishkek without a single piece laundered. You stink!

*If you enjoy reading and looking at my photos, I hope you’ll take a moment to view my Kickstarter campaign. If you can’t pledge, I understand…perhaps just spread the word. I, and all the people I photograph and speak with, thank you.

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

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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!”

04 Apr 2012
Sticky Post By Posted in Irkeshtam Pass, Kyrgyzstan, Photos of Eleanor, Scary Moments, Snow With 2 Comments Permalink

Irkeshtam Pass

Sticky Post By On April 4, 2012 With 2 Comments

3 cyclists are nearly killed by a blizzard at the summit of the Irkeshtam pass in Kyrgyzstan.

15 minutes before the storm, and 15 minutes after I was nearly pinned against a 2 meter ice wall by a cargo truck.

I’ll post the entire story later and photos.

03 Mar 2012
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Transmission from my tent.

Sticky Post By On March 3, 2012 With No Comments

Gotta keep it short.

9th day along the Taklamakan, 4th day along the Southern Silk Road.

The nomads are beginning to move back into their mud homes/huts out here. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like in a couple of months. At least when I return, the afternoon sun will be to my back, rather than burning my face.

Racing for the border…

Also, yesterday at sunset, I got to ride along about a dozen wild ass…no, not my bootie…donkies. I saw some more today…they are adorable. Last week I was just thinking how I want a few for my “Gentleman’s Farm”. Jason always told me I’m not allowed to have any animals with hooves…but those are the best animals!

29 Feb 2012
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Snack Attack

Sticky Post By On February 29, 2012 With No Comments

Instant Oatmeal, Raisins, and 2 powder packets of milk tea (for my sugar rush).

My cooking skills were dramatically improved after touring with Brandon, a trained chef. I’m still working on getting that rice pudding as good as his.

You can also see by the color of my skin that I got a healthy dose of Vitamin D the other day too.

I would love to hear from you!

Studio Address: Front Street Artist Studios

 

 

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