And we’re off!

Starting the Silk Route by bicycle is actually not that difficult! You just need to get into the right pace and at the right speed.

The KLM operated Boeing 747 needed just 10 hours from Amsterdam to Shanghai at a speed of approx. 900 kilometer/hour. KLM service is great and after a few hours sleeping we arrived ahead of schedule in Shanghai. And although there were many gates available, Chinese officials apparently thought that a parking lot with some busses would be most efficient for 400 passengers.  It’s always exciting to enter a foreign country, especially if your Chinese visa is based on flight and hotel reservations which we made only to get a visa. Try to explain to an embassy official that you fly into China and exit on a bicycle?!?! That you’re sleeping in a tent in the middle of nowhere for most of the tour?!?! And that you don’t know the people you travel with yet?!!? Making a flight return ticket reservation and hotel reservations, which I cancelled after I did get my visa, helped 😉

Apparently, money exchange is still a good business because somehow there were no ATM machines at the airport. And as stubborn as I am, I went to the Maglev train station where I thought I could pay with credit card. But I found an ATM machine, so paying wasn’t an issue anymore. Trying to buy a ticket, for myself, a bicycle and two 90 liter duffels, is something totally different. The guy at the ticket office pointed me to the service desk. The lady at the service desk doesn’t sell tickets and said I can get these at the ticket office…When that was sorted out, another issue was raised: how to put a bicycle in a X-Ray machine… eventually they figured out that that is not possible and you just open the door only for the bicycle…

By that time I figured out that everyone was just so friendly and willing to help that when they asked me to wait 5 minutes, I let go the western efficiency. It’s just that they are not used to a guy with a bicycle and 2 duffels to want to board the maglev train. They just need a little time to adjust, just like me. So when another train official asked me to follow him, and we went out the gates again, I was wondering where I was going but knew it would be OK. Fortunately, they figured out that using an elevator is much easier that an escalator, especially when you’re by bike. So just a few minutes later, I was heading 430 kilometer/hour towards Pudong Maglev train station.

From there it should have been approx. 15 kilometer to the Panorama hotel in down town Shanghai. With one 90 liter duffel on my rear luggage carrier, and one on my back, it wasn’t the most comfortable ride, but I signed up for an adventure, an expedition, not for a luxury cruise… The ride itself was quite easy: large bicycle lanes, clear directions and street signs, not many cars. So when I reached the river I run into trouble… there were no close by bridges and the tunnels were only for cars… and looking over the river, I couldn’t see any ferries. The metro is not an option I knew since they don’t allow bicycles. And with a city full of bicycles and motor bikes, I must miss something. So I decided to go left along the river to see if I can find a ferry. The views were magnificent, such an impressing city Shanghai is! After a 15 minute ride I still couldn’t find a crossing so I went back to where I started. Naturally, I should have gone right. After 5 minutes I found a ferry which brought me to the other side of the river in just minutes. And in another 5 minutes I arrived at the hotel. Lucky me 😉

Paul and Nate were making preparations for the next day departure and were surprised to see me arrive on my bicycle. I said that a few extra kilometers shouldn’t make a difference for a 12.000+ kilometer bicycle expedition, and with that said, we all smiled and were almost ready to go! Just 11 hours before departure!

Departure means early out of bed. Since my sleep rhythm is gone due to the 10 hours flight, I didn’t have a problem with the 5AM alarm (although it is a holiday)! Paul wanted us to leave Shanghai before rush hour and we quickly went to the river for your team picture. At a certain point in time, Paul must have felt very rich, which 20 photo camera’s in his hand J but we all got our picture. After 15 minutes or so, we drove off! Paul was leading the convoy the first 16 kilometers till Shanghai Zoo. With good directions, little traffic, riding through red traffic lights and perfect bicycle lanes, we made it quite easy. A perfect start for a incredible Silk Route tour!

After another 2 kilometers in convoy we traveled most of the day on Huqingping Highway (G318). Not too many traffic, wide shoulders and bicycle lanes, and a long road out of Shanghai. And it was raining! Not heavy, but continuous a little bit. With mud on the road, bike and riders became quite dirty, but there was a hotel room with shower ahead! So we enjoyed the ride and I learned to know some riders. First chats are about work, but we all have a passion about bicycle tours, whether we live in Canada, Australia, Italy, Germany, United States, Singapore, United Kingdom or the Netherlands… 16 Riders taking the challenge to travel 12.000 kilometers through Asia by bicycle! Plus 4 sectional riders joining the start in Shanghai as well. We’ll be sharing many highs and lows and will have a lot of good stories to tell each other!

After 104 kilometer we reached Pingwangzhen. It was a good easy ride, just the right speed, and a nice ride to start the tour with. In this pace, I should be able to make it to Istanbul!