Water everywhere

Looking out of the window, there was rain on the window-pane... but after reaching the ground, it had gone !

And after yesterdays mishaps, we all agreed to stay off the Toll roads, ride the smaller Bamboo roads,... and stay tighter to Abdul.

And one of the benefits was that Abdul brought coffee for our mid-morning break....

Thought this was a simple Truck wash, but then could not work out why the Trucks were having their "fuel tanks" filled with water ... with the long inclines in this mountainous region, the Trucks are fitted with additional water tanks, and these have a simple hose going to the brakes.  When the truck starts a decline, the driver opens the valve, and water just runs out continually into the brake drums...

... hence the need for these filling stations, where as a bonus, the truck is washed for free.

With the recent rain .. waterfalls everywhere.

Not much space in the valley so they build the houses out over the river.

And the High Streets are not very wide too.

Easy to jam.

That's the Toll road on the left, we are on the old road.

No room ... the road gets a tunnel. the railway is built over the river.

And then one waterfall cascades on the road.... John tries out his waterproof gear.

Finally arriving at Dongchuan.

A brush with the law

Today was just one of those days.... we had a "briefing" where we got completely confused over what city we may end up in ! It was a choice of 3 depending on if we got on the Toll road OK, or not !

Firstly we gas up, and I take the opportunity to take a pic of Big John and the little petrol pump attendant.  Little & Large, I think....

So then we plan the morning assault on the Toll Booth... it was pretty close this time as four Officials legged it out of the office as soon as we were spotted, but the three of us powered past just before they got in front of the bikes.  I wasn't sure how the Swiss lads would fare being as they were just a few minutes behind us, and now the officials were primed.

The sun was shining, and we all felt great until about 50 km down the road and we get to an exit ramp, with a Police pick-up parked there with all its lights flashing ...., Jeremy looks at a bird, John looks at the asphalt, and I check my number plate for security .... "Sorry Officer, we just didn't see you".

Three minutes later, I'm being chased by a Christmas Tree ... lights flashing, sirens going, so I give them that "who, me" look and slow to let the others escape.  I'm the sacrificial lamb today, and after they video me for 5 minutes, they cut in front, and force me to a stop.

One of them speaks a little English and explains that we are not allowed on the Toll Roads ... I blame the GPS, but they they need passports, licence etc, and need to know about our Guide.  They speak to him on the phone, and its agreed I will be escorted off, and he will come to meet me just after an exit booth.

The Police are so courteous and offer me water, and apologise the signs banning bikes are not very clear ... thankfully they had not seen the CCTV yet of us running the Toll Booth earlier !

So off we go, lights flashing again, and I'm led to safety.  They say Goodbye after the exit, offer more water, and even wanted to know if I needed them to show me the way though the city.

I wait for Abdul, who arrives after 30 mins .... and then insists we have to get back on the Toll Road again !!



In the mean time, the rest of the gang had stopped at a Rest Area, and got caught by the Cops there ... and while this was going on, evidently a film crew appeared and interviewed them ... stars on Chinese TV I guess, all except me.

Now it gets complicated as Abdul, our Guide, has had a phone call and has to wait with me, to be escorted off for a second time.  We wait for an eternity, then new cops appear, take hundreds of photos of each other, then escort us both.  I'm instructed to wait after another exit booth, while the Cops escort Abdul to find the others at the Rest area, then bring them to me ... on normal roads !

Its farcical, but all takes time and when we are all re-united in one large group, its about 4pm ... not enough time to get to the preferred destination.

Abdul decides on an alternative hotel about 50 km away, and off we go.

Duh, you are not allowed on the Toll roads...
Stand in the corner & wear the Dunce cap.

Arriving at Yibin, we check into a nice hotel on the river with commanding views of the city from our room on the 25th floor.....

And a few minutes later, a card is slipped under the door ... Hmm, must be the maid I guess, just checking to see if we need any more pillows ....

Reconvening in the bar, we relive the days excitement...

before tucking into a rather nice meal ordered by Abdul (so we knew it was edible).

The bikes all safely under the hotel ...

which is right on the river.

After the meal, again, my riding buddies attended to their blogs, while I walked the streets just hoping to find something going on .... there wasn't !    Now where's that card gone !

Must learn some Chinese ... at least the road signs !

Today's ride promised to be uneventful as we headed for Leshan...

Now I would say that bicycle is a tad overloaded !

 Simply put the codinates into "Sally Sat-nav" and off we go...

 ... and then we stop !  Seems like they are moving the roads around a bit, and of course we have not learned how to read "Road Closed" in Chinese.

Go back a little, try again and eventually get into a big a city, where they are rebuilding the city.  I have heard of these "new cities" where they simply build a totally new city in a matter of months, and the scale of high rise apartment construction has to be seen to be believed.

The roads also get a makeover, and I followed one that looked promising, only the find it had not been completed yet....

So rather than backtrack, I tell Jeremy that I'm sure we could get out down this little path ...

 ... judging by the expression, perhaps Jeremy's nerves never recovered from the "hotel gate incident"!

So back to decent highway, and rather un-decent afternoon rain.

Made our final destination mid-afternoon, but even allowing for the GPS offset, we struggled to find the hotel ... after farting around doing numerous u-turns, we resorted to calling the Guide who then magically appeared in less than 30 seconds.  We were right on it, but it turned out it was through a small archway, set about 50 mts back from the pavement, with a postage stamp sign (in Chinese).

Finally there

Decided to eat in the hotel, and I ordered what I thought was Pork in Red pepper .... Now you tell me if you can spot the bloody meat in this lot ....

Later that evening, had a walk about the city for a few hours, but just could not find any action... oh, well, with over 600 km planned for next day, discretion was the better part of valour.

Give us what the locals eat !

It was all down to Emma's for the third time for a western breakfast ...

... and a group photo for her webpage.

This bunch were also selling horse rides to Tourists.

Walking back I could not help but notice the way the Chinese just shovel their unsorted rubbish straight into the river... you can see the dumping spot on the other bank.  I mean biodegradable stuff is one thing, but this was just everything from plastic bottles, to old bicycles .. the lot.  And no prizes for guessing where it all ends up ... the sea. The same one we are all supposed to share....

 ... it did sum their culture up in that they dont seem to give a monkeys about anyone else... selfish in one sense. And that came over in the driving habits too.

OK, lets chase the plastic bottles down the river.

Still cold, and now low cloud threatened us with rain....

.. but eventually it brightened.

Watch yer head.

 And then the inevitable... we were a bit slow at a Toll Booth, and the buggers got a start on us, blocking our path, and forcing us to exit onto the "old road".  Mud, slush and water now.

But eventually, we did get to some tarmac again, and the "old road" was actually quite spectacular in places.

Interesting slogan .... "Beer & Life"... wasn't going to stop him for an explanation.

And got to the hotel in Dujiangyan, splattered, but today, where I predicted it would be ....

... 0.6 km North West of Motoexplorers actual way-point ! The calculation worked.

OK toast yerself, clever clogs.

Now eating was a bit of a challenge on this particular night ... the advance scouting party had only located what we called "Hot Pot" restaurants ... you pick your food from a platter, then they throw it into a spiced boiling pot in the centre of the table. ...

Cautiously me & John carefully picked out the items that resembled either whole meat or an identifiable vegetable... then in bowls Jeremy and says, "give us what the locals eat" ... idiot !

... and that was it.  Bits I just refused to even try.

But we all left, hungry, but smiling !  The owner found it amusing too.

And despite my return to the open air bar we drank in earlier, the crowds had gone, the staff were now eating, and the evening slowly ground to a halt after a final beer.