Bicycle Touring The World: Kazakhstan, Eski Talap to Tortkol
My latest bicycle touring around the world update, cycling across Kazakhstan. Eski Talap to Tortkol. 94 miles. I had a bit of a trek first thing this morning. The landscape is so barren at the moment that I had to venture about half a mile off the road to pitch my tent last night, so I was out of sight. I pitched it behind a big oil pipe that they seem to be laying across the country. I’ve come across it on and off for much of the time I’ve been here.
The scenery changed once I got peddling, and I was soon cycling through cotton fields. I did wonder if these were remnants from the cotton fields that the Russians created. They drained the Aral Sea, trying to get these cotton fields to work. Apparently, the Aral Sea was once the fourth-largest inland sea in the world and was about the size of Ireland.
I bumped into a familiar face today. I’d met this driver on my second or third day of cycling in Kazakhstan. He’d marked on my map where the really bad stretches of road were, and I must say he’s been pretty spot on. But then I suppose he would be. The only route he drives is between Atyrau and Almaty; this is the third time I’ve bumped into him. I wonder if I’ll see him again.
Tour Information
It’s been years since I took this ride, but the memories (and the data) are all archived:
- Photos: See my photos on Flickr
- The route: View my journey around the world
- Videos: Check out my YouTube videos
- Tour page: Ride overview
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