Kazakhstan has roundly won the Golden Pothole award and presented Hercules and I the most challenging riding of the trip so far. We’ve had roads that aren’t really roads, pot holes large enough to build swimming pools in, stretches of mud where I’ve had to carry and walk Hercules for kilometres at a time, melting tarmac which sticks to his tyres, deserts and hundreds of kilometres of ripped up roads where the new China-Europe motorway is being built.
I made this video over a week ago after a big day’s riding – only to hit the craziest of road surfaces the next day, from when the pace slowed and things got really challenging. Needless to say, it has been a lot of fun and I have seen some wonderful sights and met some brilliant people.
Happy happy days indeed,
S and Hercules x
Fantastic news about the MBE; so pleased for you. Just waiting for the snow to arrive now in New Zealand. Well done Sarah, lots of love Caroline, Sean, Martha, Charlie and Eliza xx
And the dust intake must be very difficult for this stretch – I know you can endure such tasks so take care and keep sending back footage, very important for us all back here to know how things are for you !!!
Always thinking how it is going each day
Positive vibes coming your way …
Big Hugz
xtina
Wonderful to see you on Hercules. I hope he’s feeling better soon !!! Are the camels wild????or do they belong to someone??
It’s a wet day here, not nice, BUT the country is very dry ( though not as dry as where you are ) and the farmers and growers will be glad of the rain.
HUGS XXXXX
Great seeing you still smiling despite the challenges…and there seem to be many……but stay strong and positive and soak in the adventure of it all 🙂 The videos are great so hopefully you’ll keep finding internet bandwidth to allow uploading of the files…..Cheers!
Hi Sarah,
Your blog on Wednesday was timely. That evening I was one of the Rutland Sailability hosts at a Reception at Barnsdale Lodge Hotel, organised by Friends of Rutland Sailability. Accordingly, as many of the guests know you and all are familiar with your exploits, your current whereabouts were relayed to the assembly, which included the Lord Ltnt and the High Sheriff. Everyone is looking forward to welcoming you home upon completion of this epic journey.
And now, you are bound to be in greater demand, having been honoured by HM The Queen – congratulations! You had a brilliant write-up in Saturday’s Independent – more than Bruce Forsythe. Very well done and I look forward to hearing of your next successful stage.
All your friends at Rutland Sailability wish you well.
Lots of love, Ros.
fantabulous, good progress 🙂
Hi Sarah,
Just got back from a couple of days climbing and got your up-date. Looks like a bumpy road. Enough to rattle your teeth loose!
You seem to be enjoying yourself and still have that big beeming smile 🙂
Your certainly covering some ground and going well. You’ll be paddling soon at this rate.
Well done, keep smilling.
Chris M
Well, well, well! It’s a far cry from those heady days managing the 6th form in Oakthorpe House – and almost as challenging. Very many congrats on your 3 letters; thoroughly deserved. Keep going; hope your teeth and Hercules spokes last the journey.
Much love
Judy
Yes, unfortunately, these are our – Kazakh roads! Such roads can be met even in our big cities.
Close to Almaty city the roads should be better.
Camels are not wild (there are no wild camels in Kaz) they belong to people who live in villages (I guess we can call them ‘farmers’). Camels pasture freely by themselves farway from villages. They only come back home when they have babies and stay until the camel babies stop drinking mother’s milk. Yes, camels can come back home by themselves or farmers bring them home. Each farmer knows his own camels and nobody steals them. Owners of camels are considered as wealthy people. 🙂
Good luck Sarah, hope our roads will not tired you out too much.
Alexandra
Glad you’re enjoying Kazahkstan : )
Slishkom Duroga: too expensive/far- the first, and most useful, phrase I learned in Kazakhstan. Brace yourself for China.
Tailwinds.
the joys of the open road…. china is big into putting down the tarmac, so you may find fewer sand banks ahead…. when has lack of tarmac ever been a barrier to a good day out on the bike:) whoop it up Sarah – great days of our lives eh! Susie x
Blimey, that looks amazing.
The MBE is brilliant news, congratulations.
Many, many congratulations on your MBE Sarah – well done!!!!
Who is taking the video of you as you ride on Hercules? I can see some of the pictures might be from a camera mounted on the handlebars but some bits of you cycling ahead have got me wondering!!!
The road can only get better (or maybe not!!)
Belinda xx
Hi Sarah,
Sorry to hear about those ‘roads’ limiting you to a snail’s pace. You’re doing well though – and look quite trendy in those sunglasses :)! I’m glad you’re enjoying the experience thus far.