Bicycle Touring The World: Kazakhstan, Aral to Zhangaqaza
My latest bicycle touring around the world update, cycling across Kazakhstan. Aral to Zhangaqaza. 74 miles. I had some lovely aromas last night, and this morning, I’d pitched my tent on a load of wild rosemary.
These roads are really starting to get to me now. They’re either billiard smooth or a very fine dust, which is near impossible to cycle through. The dust is so fine that when I put my foot down, it disappears into the dust. And as for trying to push my bike through, it’s exhausting and takes so long to get anywhere. In fairness, I’ve probably not had that many dusty stretches of road. It’s just I tend to remember the tougher parts.
If I’d come here next year, I would have been okay. They’re currently in the middle of constructing the New Eurasian Land Bridge connecting China with Europe, due for completion in March of next year, costing an amazing seven billion dollars! I just wonder, when they’ve built it, will they maintain it?!
Unexpectedly, I’ve found a guest house tonight. And I just had the best cold shower ever. I feel so much more refreshed now. I also managed to wash my clothes.
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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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.