Route update. Istanbul to China - the Marco Polo way...(all 5,200km of it)

As I contemplate the next phase of my ride from our hostel in Istanbul, I can’t help but think back to those mentally shattering days at the very start of my journey. Crossing the English Channel was daunting. But picking up a knee injury the very next day was absolutely crushing. All of my dreams of seeing the vast open landscapes of Central Asia and China, & immersing myself in their cultures…seemingly gone.

The next phase of my ride;

I’ve come a long way since those troubling days – both in terms of distance covered, as well as mindset. My speedo currently reads 5,290km. Within 65 days or so – with good luck and beurocracy on my side – I will have added another 5,000 km to that total.

My journey really will be taking me into the unknown; Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgysztan…China! All of these places have long captivated me – both in terms of their historical legacy of being the lands over which Marco Polo trod, as well as the sheer grandeur of the landscapes in which they encompass.

I have given myself more than a month of contingency to cover mechanical problems, inclement weather (for if it gets really gnarly!) & also to cover the ever-present issue of governmental beurocracy!!! If all goes to plan, I’ll be in China before Christmas — and then it’ll be a headlong rush to the eastern coast so I can escape before my visa runs out (I am very much hoping i’ll be able to extend my visa though as I’m sure China is going to be a magical place).

Keep a track of my progress;

If you would like to keep a track of how I am progressing as winter closes in, check my where am I page, and also sign up for my blog post notification service (every time I post an article on my website, you get an email with details about it…)

Donate;

& as much as this is a personal adventure/endeavour, I really hope it’ll also be a catalyst for generating funding for the charities I am supporting. I’m going to be cycling/sleeping in temperatures of -20 and possibly beyond…it’s going to be tough, tiring and lonely. Your donations to my chosen charities mean a huge amount to me…because I know just how much of an impact they’ll make.

I will also be updating my Twitter account whenever I get mobile phone reception. To follow me, click here

Finally, thanks for following my progress to this point,
Laurence

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