Kellen Smetana
They blow in Tashkent. The British are leaving… the Americans are coming? And the British are coming!?
Yes, it is true. Ben has decided to fly home to London from Tashkent. He has pedaled from Malaysia to Uzbekistan but will now be returning to England to spend more time with his family before starting university this fall. As you have undoubtedly read, we have had some wild times together in Asia and he will surely be missed from the Revolutions for Relief adventure. He taught me everything I know about traveling by bicycle. I learned the benefit of a hearty meal every three hours. I learned to understand river valleys, mountain passes, maps, and Google Earth like never before. I started seeing lovely campsites among piles of industrial waste. And I found that I was always faster than Ben, except when we had to pedal. It was an amazing three months; it’s sad to see him go, but I am very happy we got to spend it together.
They blow in Tashkent. The British are leaving… the Americans are coming? And the British are coming!?
Yes, it is true. Ben has decided to fly home to London from Tashkent. He has pedaled from Malaysia to Uzbekistan but will now be returning to England to spend more time with his family before starting university this fall. As you have undoubtedly read, we have had some wild times together in Asia and he will surely be missed from the Revolutions for Relief adventure. He taught me everything I know about traveling by bicycle. I learned the benefit of a hearty meal every three hours. I learned to understand river valleys, mountain passes, maps, and Google Earth like never before. I started seeing lovely campsites among piles of industrial waste. And I found that I was always faster than Ben, except when we had to pedal. It was an amazing three months; it’s sad to see him go, but I am very happy we got to spend it together.
End of an era
Alas, do not fret; I will not be pointing my two wheels westward toward the Uzbek desert alone. As I mentioned both Americans and British are joining the team and the number of wheels has augmented from four to six (plus any spares).
First, my little brother Cory has bought bicycle and gear, secured visas and plane tickets, convinced our parents to let him dart off to the other side of the world, and made arrangements to meet me in Tashkent, all in a matter of four weeks: impressive start to the trip. He will be joining the adventure across the five countries and one sea that lie between Tashkent, Uzbekistan and Istanbul, Turkey – the true Eurasian amalgamation. I am very excited as this experience should take me back to our family vacations of old, though probably with a lot less fort building and many more beers consumed. He will be posting frequently to the blog to give some of his impressions and fresh views on our journey. Two Smetanas is always better than one, and with a little work on his beard, I’m sure he’ll fit right in to the team.
First, my little brother Cory has bought bicycle and gear, secured visas and plane tickets, convinced our parents to let him dart off to the other side of the world, and made arrangements to meet me in Tashkent, all in a matter of four weeks: impressive start to the trip. He will be joining the adventure across the five countries and one sea that lie between Tashkent, Uzbekistan and Istanbul, Turkey – the true Eurasian amalgamation. I am very excited as this experience should take me back to our family vacations of old, though probably with a lot less fort building and many more beers consumed. He will be posting frequently to the blog to give some of his impressions and fresh views on our journey. Two Smetanas is always better than one, and with a little work on his beard, I’m sure he’ll fit right in to the team.
Cory building his weapon
Second, another British cyclist, Theo Brun, is pairing up for this section of the adventure. I mentioned meeting him in Bishkek and was delighted to find him ready and waiting upon our arrival in Tashkent. After leaving his position as a lawyer in Hong Kong, he has decided to cycle home to England, crossing many of the same roads Ben and I have thus far. We discovered our paths coincided from Uzbekistan to Georgia, where he will head north into Russia and we will dip south into Turkey. He will prove an excellent addition to the team as he speaks Russian and has quite the sense of humor. Theo has his own website and blog to document his adventures: www.asfaraseastisfromwest.com. Be sure to check it out whenever you get sick of mine. Six wheels on the team should be an interesting dynamic that I am sure will lead to no fewer adventurous tales for everyone back home.
Laying out battle plans with Theo
With all these changes the week in Tashkent was a flurry of activity. Between the bike building, airport trips, and ubiquitous embassy visits (Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan), we did manage to get some rest and have some fun. We saw the world’s oldest Qur’an, brushed up our Uzbek history at the National Museum, feasted at bazaars and street stalls, and even paid a visit to the self-professed “best bar in Tashkent.” It was a welcome recovery as we prepare for this particularly difficult section of road that separates us from the Caspian Sea.
Chorsu Bazaar - enormous spice market
Tashkent metro stations are gorgeous
Sidewalk art sale
Change is good. Ben will be missed, but I am excited to see what kind of exploits I will have with my two new riding partners as we head into the Uzbek desert.
Dawn of a new era
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