Takmalakan Desert19 Aug 2009
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Next stop the Takmalakan Desert - mile upon mile of sand dunes some 200m high the road we took runs north to south and ws of course built by the chinese and they have planted trees and shrubs the whole lenght to stop the sand encroaching on the road. there is an irrigation system watering the plants from wells whereever they could dig deep enough to get the water. Had planned to campon the dunes but late afternoon the wind came up and the sand was blowing across the road would not have ben gund so drove out of the desert and found a spot near a small lake and a couple of famlies - quite poor but good lot of goats and they were happy for us to campon their land. Watched us set up. Gisele got boged at one stage but we managed to free her without too much effort - the truck carries 4 quite long pieces sof track for just this reason.
Carol and I prepared our meal that night and it was a winner Keith said it was as good as his mum's cooking and best meal yet on the trip it's amazing what a bit of marinade will do.
Next stop Kotan or Hotan depending on which map you use.
