Tag: CyclingKazakhstan

Garry McGivern (Travelsonabike2) cycling Kazakhstan on his trusty bike, Passepartout

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Bicycle Touring Photos September 2026 | Travelsonabike2

Garry McGivern bicycle touring photo of small boats in Emsworth Harbour

September 2026 Cycle Touring Photos

Photos from my bicycle touring exploits around the world, which I’ve added to the website over the past month (September 2026). This month’s photos come from bicycle tours in Kazakhstan, Turkey, Austria, Scotland and my most recent ride down to the New Forest and Purbeck. Interestingly, there are a few photos of me in St Richard’s Hospital, which is where I am once again.

Once again, there’s no Flickr photo album this month. After ending up in hospital at the end of my recent ride, I haven’t felt up to it or had a chance to get around to it. But I’ll post an album once I’m feeling better. In the meantime, there are plenty of other albums from previous bike rides to view on my Flickr page.

You can also find photos on my social media channels: Facebook, Threads, Instagram, and Pinterest, which you can view without subscribing. But if you already subscribe to social media, why not give me a follow and follow me as I travel around on my bike? I also share photos on my Buy Me A Coffee page.

Bicycle Touring Photos Added To The Website

(Pictures added to the website this month)

Away with the fairy’s dreaming about being on a ferry to Morocco in 2018
Intubated in August 2018
Thankfully my bike was still at the hotel
Fatih Mosque, Istanbul
Jedburgh Abbey
At the border to Scotland
Along the seafront recording this month’s podcast
All packed and ready to leave hospital
My first drink after sixteen days in hospital
Crossing the border into Austria
Looking out over the German/Austrian countryside
Fishing boat moored up in Old Portsmouth
Passepartout waiting by the River Hamble for the Liitle Pink Ferry
Some of the little pigs in camp
The changing colours of the New Forest, the heather is starting to come into colour
It was a wet end to the day, but luckily I was all set up in camp before it rained
Small boats in Emsworth Harbour
The view from my hospital room
Garry at home now, clean-shaven

Follow & Support Garry’s Bicycle Touring Adventures

If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always support me by buying me a beer. And of course you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with regular photo updates that I generally publish each month.

If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.

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Cycling The World: Kazakh-China Border To Khorgas, China | Travelsonabike2

Bicycle Touring The World: Kazakh-China Border To Khorgas, China

My latest bicycle touring around the world update, cycling across. Kazakhstan/Chinese border to Khorgas, China. 15 miles. It was quite a long, drawn-out process to cross the border today. I left the motel and cycled past the long queue of waiting trucks. At the checkpoint, they checked my passport six different times before eventually letting me out into no man’s land. There were loads of guards, searchlights and razor wire! I must admit, I’ve not seen such a heavily fortified checkpoint before.

Once out of Kazakhstan, it was a five-mile ride across no man’s land to the Chinese checkpoint. The road between the two checkpoints went in a big arc instead of going straight across. Had I been able to ride straight across, it would have only been about half a mile away! I assume the big detour was so there was room for the lorries to queue.

Will They Let Me In

At the Chinese border, a young soldier escorted me into the immigration building. Who, in turn, passed me on to someone else, who then passed me on again. When I eventually reached passport control, I was greeted by a young female officer who spoke fluent English. After helping me fill out my entry card, she took me to the front of the queue. It was a little annoying that I had to unload my panniers and send them through the X-ray machine. But apart from that, it was all very smooth and easy. And after a quick photo with the officer, I was on my way and back in China. Only about another three thousand miles to cycle!

Garry McGivern solo self-supported bicycle touring across the world, in China with his bike Passepartout with immigration
Me with the immigration officer who helped me at the border

Even though I’ve been stuck at the border for the past couple of days and was itching to get back to cycling, I stopped again as soon as I arrived in China! I needed to get some Chinese Yuan and stock up on noodles before venturing out into the wilds of China. Getting cash was a bit of a problem. It took a while before I found an ATM that would take my card. I seem to remember there were only certain banks that accepted my card the last time I was here.

How different China is from Kazakhstan. There are so many new high-rise buildings going up. There’s plenty of fruit and veg for sale in the street markets, which isn’t hidden behind closed doors as it was in Kazakhstan. And as for the street traders with their BBQs selling every kind of meat and vegetable on wooden skewers. I loved those, although I’d forgotten how hot and spicy some of the food can be!

Tour Information

It’s been years since I took this ride, but the memories (and the data) are all archived:

Follow My Bicycle Touring Adventures

Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I continue to travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always buy me a beer. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with regular photo updates that I generally publish each month.

If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.

Follow Garry on his travels

Subscribe to my email and follow me on my travels

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Cycling The World: Kazakhstan, At The Kazakhstan- China Border | Travelsonabike2

Bicycle Touring The World: Kazakhstan, at the Kazakhstan-China border

My latest bicycle touring update, cycling around the world at the Kazakhstan-China border. Well, I’m not camping. I managed to get some tenge from the garage that’s next to the hotel. I really didn’t fancy having to camp. The temperature has dropped so much in the past few days. Mind you. I call this place a hotel. It’s more like a motel on some motorway services, except there’s no motorway.

Snow covered mountains
The Dzungarian Alatau mountain range

I went for a little ride earlier today, but there really isn’t anything here. The only things around here are the motel, garage, and border crossing down the road, which two soldiers man, and that’s it. Although if I look out from the motel towards the north, there’s some pretty stunning scenery. Which I think are the snow-covered mountains of the Dzungarian Alatau mountain range.

I spent the afternoon watching a movie in the motel café with some of the truck drivers, who were also waiting for the border to open. There must be about fifty lorries waiting to cross into China. At least back in my room, I managed to find the Japanese Grand Prix and some Premier League football on the TV. But I really wish that I’d done my homework and found out the border closes at the weekend. I could have stayed in Almaty a bit longer.

Tour Information

It’s been years since I took this ride, but the memories (and the data) are all archived:

Follow My Bicycle Touring Adventures

Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I continue to travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always buy me a beer. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with regular photo updates that I generally publish each month.

If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.

Follow Garry on his travels

Subscribe to my email and follow me on my travels

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Cycling The World: Kazakhstan, Kalinino To The Kazakhstan Chinese Border | Travelsonabike2

Bicycle Touring The World: Kazakhstan, Kalinino to the Kazakhstan Chinese border

My latest bicycle touring around the world update, cycling across Kazakhstan. Kalinino to the Kazakhstan Chinese border. 78 miles. It was bitterly cold last night, and I must admit I’ve not been that cold in a tent before. I initially thought I was a bit of a wimp. But later this morning I realised I was camping above 1000 metres! I guess I’ll just have to man up and get used to the cold.

It’s slightly worrying this cold weather, it’s only just October, and there’s already plenty of snow around on the higher levels, and it’s only going to get colder. I still think I’ve become a bit of a wimp when it comes to the cold, though!

Garry McGivern solo self-supported bicycle touring across the world, in Kazakhstan at the Kazakh/Chinese border
At the Kazakhstan border

I arrived at the Kazakhstan/Chinese border just before midday, only to find it was closed! I’m hoping it’s only closed because it’s the weekend and not some other reason. Either way, it’s a real pain. Luckily, though, there was a cheap hotel a couple of miles back up the road. I’m staying in the hotel tonight, and hopefully, I’ll be staying here tomorrow if I can get some cash. They don’t take cards or any other currency, just tenge. And I’d run my tenge down as I thought I was going to China! If I can’t get any cash, I’ll have to pitch my tent and stay in that.

Tour Information

It’s been years since I took this ride, but the memories (and the data) are all archived:

Follow My Bicycle Touring Adventures

Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I continue to travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always buy me a beer. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with regular photo updates that I generally publish each month.

If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.

Follow Garry on his travels

Subscribe to my email and follow me on my travels