Dear Mom and Dad,

As promised, here is a link to my trip blog http://www.4deserts.com/blogs/comptetior_blog_new.php?pid=NTA5&blog=10 and an explanation of how to send messages while I am on my trip. I will be sure to give you a call in Beijing , where I am staying with friends, but after that, I'm not sure how well my phone will work. Why don't you try posting a comment today so that we can make sure it works before I go incommunicado?

We’ve already talked about most of this, but I thought I would put logistics in writing in case any questions come up. So the trip that I am doing is called Racing the Planet. Basically they set up these treks all around the world to show people really interesting and culturally significant places while getting some exercise. Some of the people on the trip are super hardcore athletes and run the entire thing. For those superhumans, this trek is actually a multi-day ultramarathon, so Racing The Planet has put together an awesome medical team that includes a doctor from NASA. How cool is that! I'm sure they will also help mere mortals like me who will be walking the whole thing. Hopefully blisters will be my only reason to seek out their help... So between the medical team and my expat insurance, you have absolutely NOTHING to worry about from a health and wellness perspective. Plus I've put together a spreadsheet with all of the food I'm bringing which includes calorie content, so I will be well fed.

I arrive in Kashgar around 4pm on Friday afternoon and hopefully will get some time to check out the town. As I mentioned last night, the Chinese government is in the process of razing the city to protect it from "earthquakes." It’s a total shame, but I am so glad that I get to see it before the historical City Center is gone. Here a link to the article if you're interested: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/28/world/asia/28kashgar.html?_r=1&scp=5&sq=kashgar&st=cse

Dad, I really wish you were going to be here with me. I think this sort of place would be right up your alley. Apparently there are tons of ruins scattered all over the region from the old Silk Road days. When I’m home I will get you this great book about all the 19th century explorers. You will love it. Mom- apparently the market is incredible. I will break out the camera and post pictures on Facebook (although I doubt the fruits and vegetables will be spectacular as Rennes ) and look for lots of pretty silks and presents for you. As with all of my trips, I think to truly understand the local culture, some quality time in the public houses is required, and apparently the teahouses and bars in Kashgar do not disappoint. I will save that expedition for the end of the trip though.


So Friday to Saturday, we're in a hotel, and then Saturday we are bused out to camp, and we get started on the trek Sunday morning. Basically imagine the Billings’ tents but coed and substitute the Taklamakhan desert for Lake Fairlee . No waterskiing, but we should still have the gorgeous night skies, plus the people I’ve met doing the trek so far are wonderful.

Every day we go through a different type of landscape. The first day we'll see canyons, and the rest of the week will range from dunes to spectacular natural arches. Part of the fun will be discovering new areas. The trek ends on Saturday, followed by a celebration dinner back in Kashgar. Once we get into camp at night, I'll have a chance to go to the cybertent and hop on the Racing the Planet website to let you know how I'm doing. I can't access regular email but you have two options:

1) Click on this link and you can email me: http://www.4deserts.com/gobimarch/rtpgmtp.php?SID=3&SBID=RC14

2) Or click the link on the bottom right that says, “Comments” in light blue. At the bottom, there is a little form where you can enter your name, email and comments. Enter the security code, hit submit and voila. It’s a little more public but I know for sure I can see this.

I know you guys think I’m a little crazy for picking this as my vacation, but you also thought I was a little crazy when I decided to move to Hong Kong at 23 and think about how much you love HK now! You guys brought me up to take risks and make good decisions. I promise not to drag you to this remote region of China . :)

Of course, it’s only because of your love, support, encouragement, and 100% faith that I’m able to take on these incredible challenges. Besides the strong appeal of unplugging my Blackberry for 8 days, I guess this is another chance to push outside my comfort level, see a new (and quickly disappearing) part of the world, and learn a little bit more about myself along the way. Strangely, I suppose this adventure is sort of another milestone on the road to adulthood (despite my continued attempts to delay that reality for as along as possible).

I am so lucky to have you both in my life, and it has been so fun to share the crazy stories from training with you. (I did a quick Google search and confirmed the desert is free of monkeys, so no worries there!) In all my wanderings through the woods these last couple of months, I have often thought how fun it would be if we could all be 26 at the same time, exploring this gigantic world together. Those logistics would be difficult, so I’m glad that I have inherited your adventurous and independent spirits instead.

I will be thinking of you (and probably how much I wish we were back at the Metropole in Hanoi ) over the long trip and look forward to giving you both big hugs in just a few months.

Much love,
Kathryn x