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The 1993 Taklamakan Crossing Expedition
In the autumn of 1993 I was part of a small Anglo-Chinese expedition that made the first ever complete crossing of the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang, Western China. 800 miles from west to east, this is the world's second largest desert. It is unmapped, historically fascinating and both very wild and very beautiful.
Everybody said the crossing, which we did on foot - with camels to carry water and provisions - was impossible. They were both right and wrong. We did it: and I'm still not sure how and no-one else has done it since. I caught amoebic dysentery and was saved by some very strong anti biotics provided by Carolyn our expedition doctor. That story, and many more, is in the book The Desert of Death - the Crossing of the Taklamakan - by Charles Blackmore (John Murray 1994).
Meanwhile I've been able to use slides to tell the expedition story and raise money for charitable causes. They key thing is that everyone has their own Taklamakan to cross: at home, in the office, in hospital and at school. And everyone can cross it. If they believe they can.
 
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Council