14/07/14 – 30/07/14: Tashkent, Uzbekistan to Shihezi, China

Camping amongst the irrigation canals feeding the endless cotton and other crops. Near Angren, Uzbekistan.
Crossing the mountains to get into the Fergano
The Fergano Valley didn’t seem as fertile as we were led to believe. It was actually distinctly arid. Fergano Valley, Uzbekistan.
There just had to be one photo of the massive cotton plantations that we’re been cycling through for large parts of Uzbekistan. Near Angren, Uzbekistan.
Making friends. We found a very helpful shopkeeper near the Kyrgyzstan border who helped us source so Kyrgyz Som. We also ended up departing with yet another gift of melon on the back of the bike. Uchkurgan, Uzbekistan.
A quiet morning in the teahouse discussing life over boiled eggs and a beer. Near Taskomur, Kyrgyzstan.
The rivers and lakes in the mountains heading up to Toktugul are the most unbelievable blue. It looks an artificial colour against the dusty backdrop – no photoshop colour mods here! Heading towards Toktugul Reservoir, Kyrgyzstan.
Stunning roads, great surfaces and no cars. The road up the mountain was steep but completely worth it. Heading towards Toktogul, Kyrgyzstan.
We made the top! Heading down to Toktugul Reservoir as the sun was creeping below the surrounding mountains.
A romo moment camping beside the Toktugul Reservoir, Kyrgyzstan.
Sleeping on the tarpaulin under the stars next to lake Toktugul, Kyrgyzstan.
Pushing up the sandy banks back to the road in the morning sun. Already sweating. Toktugul, Kyrgyzstan.
Skirting Toktugul Reservoir. In all, we cycled over 60km along the lake. Still enjoying one of the best roads of the trip. Toktugul Reservoir, Kyrgyzstan.
Camping at 1850m elevation halfway up the Ala-Bel Pass. Amazing to wash in the crystal mountain waters. It feels like being in the Swiss Alps. The big jackets are back on as the temperature plummets. Ala-Bel Pass, Kyrgyzstan.
We’ve entered the “land of yurt”. At 2000m elevation the yurts began to fill the landscape. Ala-Bel Pass, Kyrgyzstan.
Children from the nomadic families running out to meet us on the climb. Ala-Bel Pass, Kyrgyzstan.
Kids are always the most inquisitive of the strange bearded monsters who for some reason are cycling uphill… 2500m elevation. Kyrgyzstan.
Balls of horse cheese seem to be the favourite presents to give away. It gave us the strength to keep climbing. 2700m elevation. Ala-Bel Pass, Kyrgyzstan.
Nomadic families grazing their animals around their yurts at over 3000m. Ala-Bel Pass, Kyrgyzstan.
The summit. 3200m. Ala-Bel Pass, Kyrgyzstan.
Gotta hydrate to vibrate. After several hours of climbing we made the top of the pass. Wooly hats and jumpers out as it was pretty cold. Ala-Bel Pass, Kyrgyzstan.
Horsemen herding their sheep across the hills. Kyrgyzstan.
The Great Yurt Valley. This family called us over to have a go on the bikes. The main valley leading to Issyk-Kol, Kyrgyzstan.
The next pass to get over to Bishkek. Camping halfway up at 2100m. Tor-Ashuu Pass, Kyrgyzstan.
The vast landscape below served as great distraction from all the climbing. 2700m elevation on the Tor-Ashuu Pass, Kyrgyzstan.
Coming out of a 5km tunnel at the top of the pass we were presented with the most impressive road either of us had ever seen. 2200m of descent along hairpin bends and sweeping roads. Epic. The top of the Tor-Ashuu Pass (3500m elevation), Kyrgyzstan.
Collapsing amongst the trees for a siesta outside Tup, Kyrgyzstan.
Heading up along the Tup River up the valley leading towards Kazakh. Outside Taldy-Suu, Kyrgyzstan.
The Tup River. Heading up to Kazakh. Near Ken-Suu, Kyrgyzstan.
Beehives everywhere as we emerge at the top of the Karkara valley, Kyrgyzstan. The road has turned to some awful gravelly stuff over the last 40km. Very slow going on our 35mm tyres.
The road may have been terrible but more than compensated for by possible the most stunning scenery of the trip. Karkara Valley, Kyrgyzstan.
Panoramic needed to try and give some sense of the beauty up here. Karkara valley, Kyrgyzstan.
The road got so bad that we resorted to cycling on the grass. Karkara Valley Pass, Kyrgyzstan.
Back in Kazakhstan! Looking ahead is the massive descent from the high altitudes of the Kyrgyz mountains to the flat deserts in Kazakh. Near Kegen, Kazakhstan.
Awesome descending past endless yurts selling horse milk. Near Kegen, Kazakhstan.
The Odometer skips over to 10,000km. Extreme feelings of elation and pride in what we’ve achieved so far. Descent into the desert. Eastern Kazakhstan.
Back on the flat stuff. The desert in eastern Kazakhstan. Near Charyn Canyon, Kazakhstan.
The lone tree in 100’s of km of sand. Heading for Zharkent, Kazakhstan.
Our last night in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Awoken in the morning by endless farm animals being herded past our digs. 35km from the Chinese border at Korgus, Kazakhstan.
We have emerged over the Chinese border into a completely different world. The Chinese have build some immense infrastructure. This dual carriageway up the mountains towards Sayram Lake crosses back over itself in a 10km loop. 1800m elevation climbing to Sayram Lake, Xinjiang, China.
The bridges up the mountain keep going…
Camping alongside Sayram Lake. Probably the last of the yurts we’ll see on the trip. It’s cold and we didn’t really sleep because the wind was horrendous. Sayram Lake, Xinjiang, China.
The Pagoda that wasn’t… We found a great Pagoda to sleep under for the night. Until at midnight the wind and driving rain chucked us out. Not much sleep. Felt like a typhoon trying to carry us away. Biscuits and jam for breakfast the morning after. Near Jinghe, Xinjiang, China.
Found a friendly man who showed us to a spring and gave us watermelon to supplement the biscuit breakfast… Near Jinghe, Xinjiang, China.
My new look.
Proud Chinese family outside their home having just given us watermelon. Near Jinghe, Xinjiang, China.
Making friends with the cops. He showed us a good restaurant and helped us do a bit of ordering. I think he mainly wanted a picture of us.
Our first Eastern sunset. It’s pretty desolate out here in Western Xinjiang.
Waking up in the middle of the sand again. The dust cleared to reveal the stunning mountains to the south. Near Kuytun, Xinjiang, China.
Cycling through the nothingness there suddenly appear these massive cities some clever person has decided they will just pop up quickly. They don’t even show up on maps. Hearing towards Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.