The temporary alliance Emily and I had struck that morning seemed to be working out fine.
Moreover, I was a bit wary of riding with a legend in the making (sorry, Emily). Although she'd never say so herself, her story so far is nothing short of amazing. One day, this former London bicycle courier got it into her head that cycling around the world (and when I say around the world I mean: all the bloody way around the world) might be a nice way to spend a year or four. She more or less settled on the Silk Road for the first leg of her journey, very wisely applied for a Pakistani visa before she left the country, realised that she would have to cover the entire distance from her hometown in Wales to faraway Pakistan within six months or else she wouldn't be allowed to enter the country, and then set off anyway.
Rather disappointingly, it turned out that she isn't quite the female hulk we had imagined her to be. In fact, I would like to dispel all rumours that she has bicycle chains for breakfast. A sprinkling of diced knobbly tyres on her cereal is enough to keep her going.
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| Emily with icy backdrop |
We'd first met in Islamabad, and although we'd made a point of keeping in touch, we'd never really discussed the possibility of riding together. But somehow, having reached what is probably the most challenging part of the KKH, we sensed that we could do with a companion. This little experiment wasn't entirely risk-free. Being hardcore solo riders with our own quirks and habits, there was no guarantee that we wouldn't try to sabotage each other's bike two kilometres into the first day.
Moreover, I was a bit wary of riding with a legend in the making (sorry, Emily). Although she'd never say so herself, her story so far is nothing short of amazing. One day, this former London bicycle courier got it into her head that cycling around the world (and when I say around the world I mean: all the bloody way around the world) might be a nice way to spend a year or four. She more or less settled on the Silk Road for the first leg of her journey, very wisely applied for a Pakistani visa before she left the country, realised that she would have to cover the entire distance from her hometown in Wales to faraway Pakistan within six months or else she wouldn't be allowed to enter the country, and then set off anyway.
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| Sometimes even legends need a breather |
Like me she started her trip in September (albeit one year later), but instead of heading for sunny Spain she cut through eastern Europe, braved arctic conditions in eastern Turkey and western Iran (check her superb blog for some gruesome pictures) and made it to Pakistan with only a few days to spare. By that time the entire cycle touring community was raving on about her. 'Have you heard about that girl from Wales?' we would ask each other. 'Did you know she's putting in 200 kilometres a day?' As I told her in an email, she made us male pedal pounders all look like pathetic underachievers.
Rather disappointingly, it turned out that she isn't quite the female hulk we had imagined her to be. In fact, I would like to dispel all rumours that she has bicycle chains for breakfast. A sprinkling of diced knobbly tyres on her cereal is enough to keep her going.
Hahaha. Yes, I've heard about her too. So inspiring. I've done some bicycle touring, but she makes the rides I do look like a ride down the block.
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