We all have those days when we dream of escaping from the grind, venturing into uncharted territory, and leaving all of our worries behind. Unfortunately, for many of us, those wistful dreams are fleeting, as duty calls, and we are burdened with obligations and responsibilities. However, there are those who can embrace these dreams and act upon them and quench their wanderlust.
Plymouth State University graduate Tyler Durham and his girlfriend, Adrianne Gass, are two of the lucky minority. Together, they travelled from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia by bicycle for four months, beginning in June 2013 and finishing at the end of September of the same year. They biked a grand total of 3,938 miles, averaging 44 miles a day, stopping in eight different locations along the way. Although the journey pushed them both to the limit at times, the experience was both rewarding and enlightening.
Tyler and Adrianne are both experienced cyclists, having tackled multiple cross-country bicycle trips in the past, yet nothing could have prepared them for the trials they would face on this trip, from language barriers to dissimilar attitudes prevalent throughout Central Asia. The region is not your typical vacation spot- the terrain is rough, the weather fickle, with language and culture dramatically different than that of the Western world. Yet, as Tyler and Adrianne would soon learn, the region is incredibly underestimated.
Having always dreamed of visiting Mongolia and observing the nomadic lifestyle firsthand, Adrianne proposed the idea to Tyler, and the trip gradually became a reality as they planned their route. Due to his passion for apples, Tyler added Kazakstan, the first known country to domesticate the fruit, into the mix. In the end, the itinerary consisted of eight stops- three in Kyrgyzstan, two in Kazakstan, one in Russia, and two in Mongolia. To avoid the hassle of obtaining a visa, the two settled on Kyrgyzstan as their starting point, and by the beginning of June, the two were finally ready to embark.
“Sometimes you think about where you would rather be, because sometimes, it’s not where you are. It’s a really awesome, amazing life. You wake up in the tent, eat your breakfast–often in really amazing places–you ride your bike all day, meet all sorts of interesting people who live really differently,” Adrienne remarks.
Life on the road, however, isn’t always easy- constant flat tires, bad weather, safety concerns, and rough terrain. Yet the unknown is part of the experience, as letting the road take you where it will, allows you to live in the moment. Adrienne describes the experience as “a truly rewarding way to live. You feel strong being out in the open air. It’s like a potent drug- once you’ve tried it, you want more.”
That being said, cycling cross-country puts you in an extremely vulnerable position. The morning after having her camera stolen, Adrienne’s back suddenly gave out, and the two had to postpone travel for a few days. Nonetheless, Adrienne maintains that when you travel, you have to trust, “You put yourself out there, and have to trust that most people in the world are good.” Most importantly, Adrienne continues, “You have to trust that things will work out, and that you can’t be prepared for everything and that things will be okay in the end. After my camera was stolen, the ability to trust people became a lot harder, especially because we were physically always exposed to the elements. But you just have to trust, and the universe will provide.”
But Adrienne and Tyler encountered many wonderful people, natives, and fellow travelers alike. People opened up their homes and constantly offered aid and gifts, as well as encouragement. Everywhere they went, natives were intrigued, constantly asking questions and inviting them into their homes.
In Central Asian culture, the family plays a huge role in one’s life, and people are rarely alone. Nomadic people throughout Central Asia typically live in “yurts” (in Mongolia, “gers”) that are sturdy, portable dwellings, in clusters of three or four family units. Extended family members are in and out constantly, and as a result, people are in incessant communication.
“Hospitality is a tenant” Adrienne said, “It’s a major part of life, and is expected. If you see someone, you invite them into your home.” When meeting other travelers along the way, the pair was able to exchange tips and experiences, and to offer words of advice. “A lot of people we met were on one to two year trips, and here we were on a four month trip,” Adrienne recalled, and nonetheless, “everyone was supportive and encouraging, and pumped to meet fellow travelers.”
Looking back, Adrienne and Tyler both agree that there are things that they wish they had brought, such as pictures of simple objects for making communication easier, and business cards to hand out. “Many people we met had never been to America, and being able to give them something like that would be really cool” Tyler said. “We could never repay all the people who opened up their homes to us and helped us out, so it would be nice to give something back.”
Overall, the described their experience as life changing, and the pair would encourage anyone considering travel to stop thinking, and take the plunge. The positive aspects to travel outweigh the negatives tenfold, and the experience is profound. Tyler succinctly sums it up with one parting word of wisdom for everyone, “GO.”