Wednesday, 22 April 2009 00:00 Last Updated on Thursday, 09 July 2009 09:42 Written by Billy van Graan

Cycling Day: 8
Distance: 73km

When having a break today Muis told me he wants to go home. He is coughing all the time and not getting better and he is not enjoying himself. I told him we can talk tonight when we have finished the day. So I had a lot to think about during the course of the day but decided if he wants to return I would go with him. It is pity because so much effort, training, money and hopes have been put into this and I just feel that we haven’t done nearly enough.

I had a really good day today and I feel like I’m getting into good shape for touring. It usually takes a week to 2 weeks for your body to get used to cycling for such a long time every day but once you reach that level everything just becomes more enjoyable and little easier.

We passed a junction that leads to the Karakorum Pass, South-Western Aksai Chin and India. After the junction we then cycled over a 4300m pass to reach a road repair station that was locked up. It wasn’t abandoned but there was no one there. The wind was howling when we got there so we needed to find a place to pitch the tent that would be sheltered. We ended up staying in a structure behind the repair station that looked like an old barn or storage facility. Muis decided to warm us up he would make a small fire with some wood that he found in the barn we were going to sleep. This wood included a heavily varnished bed case and it was engulfed in huge flames within seconds. I shouted to Muis to make a plan because the smell was very bad, there was smoke everywhere and if the flames were to get any higher it would reach the roof made of grass and wood. The book case was in the corner in an upright position and he tipped in onto its side. This didn’t help much and soon the flames were licking the bottom of the grass roof. We had no choice but to spray some of our drinking water over it, then started throwing sand on it until the fire was small enough so we could drag the book case outside.


All this happened right next to our tent of which we left the door open and everything inside was covered in dust. We got into the tent after cleaning it and chatted about leaving. Muis was still coughing badly. I was very disappointed. We managed to do just 800km and haven’t even reached Tibet and for me it felt like we were only getting started.

 

Tags
China  Cycling  Dragons Backbone