Martin sets the pace when it comes to cooling off fast.
Chris models the latest in headwear from Samarkand
Although every rider on the Silk Route pedals along at their own pace - some nearly racing, others meandering at the pace of a brisk walk - the reason to ride slow is places like Toksun, a small Muslim agricultural community halfway between Korla and the expansive nothingness of the Turpan depression, which is 150 meters below sea level. Toksun is blessed by water - a rarity in these parts - and they grow the region’s “fragrant pears.” Those who hustle might see it as just another dirt road. Those who take the time to wander get introduced to several baby donkeys, an old codger whose interested in the digital camera and one of the most picturesque little villages in the Xinjiang province.
Lunch time
