Kuqa

Yes, it’s true! We completed a ride that was less than 100km, just by a whisker. But for a tired group who averaged about 150km each day, those numbers are basically a ‘rest day of riding’. Other than a few turns (the most we have had all week) the riders had a nice, easy, flat and rather chilly ride into the town of Kuqa today. The desert type landscape was replaced by bustling villages surrounded by poplar trees, corn rows, cotton fields and once again we had to negotiate donkey carts, pedestrians, motorcycles and the increase in traffic. The best part of the day was waking up in desert camp to a golden sunrise across the plains and of course, eggs and porridge! So the Buddhist influenced town of Kuqa awaits the riders and once settled into Hotel Qici, they can head off and enjoy, Chinese food, sights and some well earned rest from their bikes!