Second stop: The last tear in the Pacific Ocean
Leaving Kaiker Guqin Lavender Manor, start a new day of cycling, today you will pass the "Guozigou Bridge" and "Salimu Lake". Before officially getting on the bridge, there was a long climb. I can’t remember the exact number of kilometers. Anyway, it was very cruel. On the road, I saw herdsmen driving their sheep leisurely on the highway. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it.
The road looks flat, but in fact it goes uphill all the way, and you can see Sailimu Lake at the top.
Riding on the Guozigou Bridge, I was a little nervous. After all, the bridge is too high and the wind is very strong on the bridge. I was worried that a strong wind would come and blow me off (haha).
The highest point is 108 meters from the ground below.
It may be that I was hungry and in a trance, and when I came out of the tunnel, I found the dark blue one on the left, thinking it was a banner or a construction cloth. After riding for a while, I realized that this is Sailimu Lake.
I underestimated in advance, did not prepare enough food, and climbed the slope hungry. When I arrived at Sailimu Lake, I was so hungry that I didn’t have the energy to look at the scenery. I just wanted to find a place to eat as soon as possible. Fortunately, the road is basically downhill in the future.
I found a place to eat at four o'clock in the afternoon. I ate my first meal of "hand-picked rice" in a grass yurt. The herdsmen are very simple and put a lot of sheep and scorpion meat. I asked her to take out some. I didn't like it very much. Eating meat, too much will eventually go to waste.
While eating, the hostess of the ranch came in to chat with me. I didn't understand half of what she said, so I could only nod politely. Start off after eating, and stay at the gate of Sailimu Lake Scenic Area tonight.
When I arrived, I realized that the Sailimu Lake Scenic Area was under construction, and no accommodation was provided, so I had to continue camping for one night. Camping is very lively tonight, camping with a group of car friends who set off from Urumqi to Ili. Dinner and breakfast are buffet meals in the canteen on site.
Cycling from Sailimu Lake via Jinghe County, the 91st Regiment, Wusu City (the deadly Wusu Beer) and finally arrived at Dushanzi. It took three days to ride on the expressway, which was very boring. Due to the hot weather, we set off very early every day, rest under the bridge around 12 noon, and start again around 5 pm.
Looking forward to arriving at Dushanzi as soon as possible, because after Dushanzi, we will start cycling on the Duku road.
Today, I bought a lot of water and food in Dushanzi. It was later confirmed that there is no problem with resupply on the road, as long as there is enough water.
The third stop: four seasons in one day (Duku Highway)
I started riding on the Duku Highway, and I was excited and nervous. In June 2016, the temperature in Xinjiang was high, and the speed of snowmelt on the snowy peaks of the Tianshan Mountains accelerated, causing mudslides to occur from time to time, and the roads were often blocked.
⑴ days
Such a representative road must be photographed.
When I saw the announcement, I was very worried. If the road was blocked by mudslides and I needed to return, the plan would be disrupted. After passing a road blocked by a mudslide, the bicycle can be carried over.
"Guard Tianshan Road" is engraved on the stone tablet, and I rested under the stone tablet for more than an hour.
When I was doing cycling guides, I was looking forward to poetry and the distance. When I walked on this road of abuse, poetry and the distance were all nonsense, and my mind went blank when I was tired from climbing. It's been like this all day today, with increasing altitude.
I live in a yurt at night. I bring a tent with me for long-distance riding for peace of mind. I don’t feel panic when I can’t find a place to live. In fact, as long as I have a place to live, I don’t know how to live in a tent.
⑵ days
Before setting off, I saw photos of mudslides in the cycling group, and today I came to the scene.
In 2016, the Duku Highway was not an Internet celebrity road, and there were very few cars on the road. Try to ride in the middle of the road as much as possible, because I am a little afraid of heights.
Hungry and cold, boil some glucose to replenish your energy.
I have been climbing uphill since I set off in the morning, and today I have to cross a snow-capped mountain in Daban to stay in Qiaoerma Town. From yesterday to today, I have been thinking about how beautiful this road is?
When I came here, all the hard work was worth it. Had lunch here, it was already past 3 in the afternoon.
After passing Daban and going downhill all the way to Qiaoerma Town, I have an urge to fly. I am not riding a bicycle, but a horse! Stay tonight in Qiaoerma Town, a hotel run by the Han people. Here, the aboriginal country divides the pastures and lives a very rich life.
⑶ days
Before leaving today, I went to visit the Duku Highway Martyrs Cemetery. It took 9 years to build this road and sacrificed 128 soldiers. On this road, everyone who passes by here should pay their respects.
I feel like I have come to Northern Europe! It's really beautiful here, I'm in a hurry, otherwise I really should stay for two days before leaving.
Now I know why Duku Highway is known as the most beautiful highway. There is really "poetry" here in the distance.
When I was feeling beautiful, suddenly a big dog chased me, disappointing! The best way to deal with a dog is to stop and watch, and it will turn around and walk away obediently. I don't know if this trick is good for dealing with Tibetan mastiffs, I haven't tried it.
Stay in Nalati, tonight's candlelight dinner is spicy fried potato shreds and naan.
⑷ days
An embarrassing day.
This photo was hard to come by because my hands were freezing and it took a lot of effort to get out my phone and take this photo.
It started to rain in the morning, and the temperature gradually dropped as the altitude increased. I was followed by a big dog for a long time on the road. When I got down to push the cart, it walked slowly. When I rode a bike, he ran slowly, keeping a certain distance from me.
The black clouds are overwhelming, and the rainstorm is coming. There is no one around, so I can only run all the way. The final outcome of today is to become a drowned chicken. When I arrived at the Swan Lake Scenic Area in Bayinbulak, I rushed in when I saw the first hotel, and asked the front desk to open a room for me first. The waiter was very cooperative. I came to the room, turned on the hot water, turned on the air conditioner, and started to take a shower. After more than an hour, I was relieved.
⑸ days
It takes more than 30 kilometers to walk in the Swan Lake scenic spot. I was worried that I would have to go back the same way after entering, so I didn't enter the scenic spot. It was only later that I realized that riding a bicycle in and exiting at another exit would not affect my itinerary. Hesitation-it's a pity to let me pass by Swan Lake, but this regret can be a reason to come again.
The snow-capped mountains in the distance, the grassland at the foot, the blue sky above, the herds of cattle and sheep, the running horses, the shepherds withdrawing their horses and whipping their whips, all these are perfectly integrated into the Bayinbulak Grassland, which is empty, quiet and full of vitality. screen.
This straight road with no edge in sight seems to belong to me only. Occasionally passing vehicles break its tranquility, but it soon quiets down. If time could hit the pause button, I hope it's here.
Sailimu Lake is the last tear of the Pacific Ocean, so what is it here?
It was already 5 o'clock in the afternoon when I came here. I met a cyclist who had no tent and camped every day. A large piece of plastic sheet was his tent. Since you want to travel, you should work hard and make money. How meaningful is it to travel without enough food and sleep? If you want to be a bum, that's a different story.
Some people say that I have suffered hardships on the road of travel, which is a training for myself. Isn't working hard at home a kind of training?
Suffering on the road is not for hone anything, but to see the scenery along the way in this way.
After passing through this tunnel, you will enter the territory of Kuqa, which also indicates that the riding on the Duku Highway is coming to an end!
The mountains in the distance are like an ink painting.
⑹ days
Wetlands, grasslands, and rivers are getting farther and farther away from me, and Gobi, deserts, and soil forests are slowly coming into my eyes.
Arrived at Kuqa Passenger Station at 7:00 this afternoon, ready to take the bus to Luntai County, and start the next section of desert road riding.
The Duku road ride, which has been brewing for a long time, was successfully completed.
Harvest the scenery along the way, but lose an obsession.
Satisfied desires can only bring you momentary happiness before another desire haunts you.
This is how most people spend their lives.
A philosopher said that desire is the root of human suffering.
