Said my goodbyes to the friendly hotelier and other interesting people around the town before boarding the bus and embarking on the 500km 8 hour trip back to Urumqi. I'd now done this trip 3 times so didnt feel too bad about not cycling although there was still a feeling of regret. The scenery changed from from pure barren desert to sharp jaggedy mountain terrain. The winds along this route on all 3 times were pretty intense. On arriving in Urumqi settled into the same hotel as before and awaited Matty's next day arrival.

Matty's train arrived at 4pm. At about 3:45, getting ready to meet him at the station, heard a train coming past the hotel and realised it was his. Mounted the bike and sped up the hill 2km to the station. There was Matty, surrounded by a crowd of curious Chinese onlookers, as if he was Lance Armstrong himself.

Matty will be providing the highlights of the trip until our arrival in Almaty, Kazakhstan.