Five weeks to Silk Road D Day

This time in five weeks I shall be at SFO to board the plane for Beijing at the start of RTW II. Last minute fever is setting in. Passports are in Washington doing the rounds. Uzbekistan this week. Crucial information (for visas) is still not forthcoming from Central Asian operators. Where exactly does the Almaty/Moscow train, which I board in Shymkent, actually cross from Kazakhstan into Russia? Much following up and a large dose of patience is needed, good training for travelling in Western China and Central Asia. On RTW I, I arrived at Udon in Thailand to catch the Tuesday plane to Changmai - only to be told - "Only one passenger (that would be me) so plane will go next Tuesday." (I did not want to spend a week at the B 52 Bomber base, was not patient and did get to Changmai that day). Hopefully all will be accomplished this time. TTFN