Dear Yuri and Madina
I've been given your details by Sergey Starchenkov via Mary Hardwick and am hoping you may be able to help me.
I work with a young British adventurer called Sarah Outen. Sarah is 2 months into a 2.5 year human-powered expedition around the world, raising money for charity and working with schools to share her story. More details on www.sarahouten.com. This is a world record-breaking expedition and the first time anyone has attempted such a route. The expedition has so far been featured in the media in the UK, USA and Russia.
Sarah left London on 1 April and kayaked from London to France. She is now cycling through Europe and central Asia to Russia. She will then kayak to Japan; row across the Pacific Ocean to Canada; cycle across North America; and then row across the Atlantic Ocean back to the UK.
She is currently in Kazakhstan and cycling towards Almaty where she is due to meet her camera woman Justine Curvengen who will film her cycling East towards China and across the border towards Urumqi.
I wondered whether you would be able to help in any way with her getting across the border - just helping to smooth the way really.
We have just found out that the border crossing at Korgas involves taking a short bus ride of about 50-100m. The Lonely Planet guide had suggested that you can get a bike across but it now appears that this means that you can take a bike on the bus but not cycle it across. Sarah really does not want to take the bus as the main point of her expedition is that she does it all by human power ie she is not allowed to travel by plane, train, bus, ferry or car. I have contacted the British Ambassador in China and the embassy has advised me that Sarah should try and talk to the immigration officials at Korgas and see if they will let her walk or cycle across the border in keeping with her mission. Is there any way that you would be able to help her with this please?
I would be so grateful if you could help.
Please let me know.
Many thanks
Sara