Quick Update from China- 7/5/2006

I've only got a few minutes at this internet cafe, but expect a more detailed update shortly. 

After selling our bikes in Almaty, Kazakhstan, we rode a bus across the Chinese border and met up with our friend, Yuan, in Urumqi.  With her help, we negotiated the purchaces of 3 "Jailing" Chinese motorcycles.  The biggest bikes that we could get were 150ccs.  They feel like something you would ride down the iles at Toys R Us...Fisher Price style.  The brakes work fine as long as you help them out (picture Fred Flintstone).  The build quility is also terrible.  Andrew had his front axel nut vibrate off the first day (holds on the front wheel) and Rodger lost the nut that holds the front and the rear of the bike together.  The price was right though.  The owner and regional manager of Jailing motorcycles came to greet us and take pictures with the "crazy Americans" that are ridding across China.  We thanked him and set off to the east.    

The west of China has a beautiful landscape and almost no people.  The few people that are here are not accustomed to seeing travelers.  We have ran into many people that had never even seen a white person before us.  One women told us that she thought all Americans were black before she met us.  There are nomadic tents set up off the side of the road.  We had the chance to meet some of these people and even drink warmed milk straight from their cow...how cool.

Like any true journey, our journey through China presents us with three challenges.  The first of which was the huricane force winds that we encountered crossing from Urumqi.  Next was the 120 degrees fareinhiet temperatures that we passed through at "fire mountain" (more on these later).  Next will be the pass over the Himalayas on our way into Tibet (the highest drivable pass in the world).  We will start assending the Himalayas tomorrow.  Tonight we had dinner with two Chinese men that were familiar with the pass.  We milked them for all the information that we could about the roads.  Tomorrow morning one of them will take us to buy oxygen tanks for the trip.  Oxygen sickness is a very real fear for this drive.  It can set in at just 7,000 feet, and we will reach altitudes over 18,000 feet.  We are told to expect snow, high winds, no people, no gas, and the most amazing views you could ever hope to see. 

One other problem is that we are not currently allowed in Tibet.  Foreigners are not allowed to even buy train tickets to the area.  However, there is only one check point if you go by road.  The plan?...Cover ourselves completely to conceal that we are not Chinese.  Keep our helmet visors closed and hope that we don't get stoped.  If we get passed the check point we will be home free.  If we cannot, then our route through China may become more direct...we will find out tomorrow.  Wish us luck and expect an update within the next few days.

-J.