A couple more shots of Dali as I walked back to the Sister hotel where we had left the bikes...
Abdul, the Guide, had asked we assemble for a 9am departure, so suited and booted, we all wait in the scorching heat .... while Ken now decides its time to adjust his chain ! Grrrr.
Onto yet another Toll road, where John lines up to "shoot the barrier" just as soon as that car clears...
... but clear skies and decent surface are the rewards.
You may recall that our route was changed at the last minute, due to road closures and bridge collapses in Tibet ... there was a lot of Chinese Whispers going on that it was just an excuse for the Guide to take us on an easier route, and that the closures were not true.
We didn't know who to believe, when we happened to meet up with Helge Pedersen, the founder of the well respected Globe Riders organisation. He confirmed what a bad state the Tibetan roads were in as he also had to re-route a tour...
In the mean time, Alan with the Swiss lads, had incurred the wrath of the UK organiser, Motoexplorers, and I got sight of some e-mail exchanges that basically said "if you think you can do better alone, here is your refund and off you go then". Tensions were high to say the least, and it had become an us & then situation now, with Max and his girl staying in neutral territory.
In this mountainous region, you are either driving on a bridge...
... or going through a tunnel.
Ahhh... love at first sight, he tells me.
Another nice hotel ... I have to say the accommodation choices have usually been amongst the best each city had to offer.
Tonight we were in the city of Lincang. It seemed like it was in the process of being built, with the roads all 4-lane, and arranged in a grid, but without the blocks being filled in yet..
... until our evening search for food took us past this huge high-rise apartment development.
We were lucky to find somewhere to eat, and after the hour walk back to the hotel, I was in no fit shape to walk back an hour to the city, just to seek some action. An early night was the only option. but as we walked through reception about 8pm, we find Abdul had been waiting there for around 5 hours for the 2 Swiss lads & Alan, who had apparently hung back, then disappeared on an "off-road" route they found on the GPS.
Abdul explained that every night, once we are all checked in, he gives the hotel his id-card, and they inform the local police. The Police then visit the hotel and check all the permits, before we get our passports back.
The hotel were also getting upset that half of us had checked in early and they too, wanted to get the paperwork finished and wanted that police visit over and done with. I suspect some of their "customers" don't relish a Police presence late at night for obvious reasons !
Not surprisingly, tempers were running high as I went to bed ....
Abdul, the Guide, had asked we assemble for a 9am departure, so suited and booted, we all wait in the scorching heat .... while Ken now decides its time to adjust his chain ! Grrrr.
Onto yet another Toll road, where John lines up to "shoot the barrier" just as soon as that car clears...
... but clear skies and decent surface are the rewards.
You may recall that our route was changed at the last minute, due to road closures and bridge collapses in Tibet ... there was a lot of Chinese Whispers going on that it was just an excuse for the Guide to take us on an easier route, and that the closures were not true.
We didn't know who to believe, when we happened to meet up with Helge Pedersen, the founder of the well respected Globe Riders organisation. He confirmed what a bad state the Tibetan roads were in as he also had to re-route a tour...
In the mean time, Alan with the Swiss lads, had incurred the wrath of the UK organiser, Motoexplorers, and I got sight of some e-mail exchanges that basically said "if you think you can do better alone, here is your refund and off you go then". Tensions were high to say the least, and it had become an us & then situation now, with Max and his girl staying in neutral territory.
 |
| Max, who is already carrying 6 months worth of his luggage, now has to make room for the girl, and her Autumn collection ! |
... or going through a tunnel.
Ahhh... love at first sight, he tells me.
Another nice hotel ... I have to say the accommodation choices have usually been amongst the best each city had to offer.
Tonight we were in the city of Lincang. It seemed like it was in the process of being built, with the roads all 4-lane, and arranged in a grid, but without the blocks being filled in yet..
... until our evening search for food took us past this huge high-rise apartment development.
We were lucky to find somewhere to eat, and after the hour walk back to the hotel, I was in no fit shape to walk back an hour to the city, just to seek some action. An early night was the only option. but as we walked through reception about 8pm, we find Abdul had been waiting there for around 5 hours for the 2 Swiss lads & Alan, who had apparently hung back, then disappeared on an "off-road" route they found on the GPS.
Abdul explained that every night, once we are all checked in, he gives the hotel his id-card, and they inform the local police. The Police then visit the hotel and check all the permits, before we get our passports back.
The hotel were also getting upset that half of us had checked in early and they too, wanted to get the paperwork finished and wanted that police visit over and done with. I suspect some of their "customers" don't relish a Police presence late at night for obvious reasons !
Not surprisingly, tempers were running high as I went to bed ....