But its German ... it can't be broken !

Suited & booted, we convened in the car park for the off, then Big John announced that he wasn't going anywhere today ....

The ultra-reliable BMW had sprung an oil leak, and it looked serious.

With 7 pairs of eyes, and no end of advice, it turned out the oil plugs above the cylinders had backed off just enough to leak some oil when started from cold.  All attempts to tighten them failed, but as the leak stopped when the engine got hot, we "helped" John to make the decision to just live with it !

All too common scenery now....

but better than desert !

The 360 km to Chuxion turned out be be fairly uneventful, and we got there early afternoon...

Abdul had even managed to give us correct co-ordinates, so we arrived right at the door of the strangely named "Green Style Hotel".  But thats how it should be.

Later that evening, we had a stroll around the locality, and with the aid of Google translate, and a photo I took earlier in the tour of Pork in Green & Red Peppers, we managed to order a meal...

The obligatory photo with the staff.

And after that, back to the hotel, to which I also decided to retire early tonight.... nowhere else to go.

Bloody kids

First job ... fill up with benzene/gas/petrol/unleaded ... they seem to call it a different name in every country....

93 Octane is the lowest in China, with 97 available if you want it.

Fight more traffic escaping the city.

So when did the size of your truck bed limit what you can carry ?

And we head out into the mountains again.

Love the signs ... could do with this in the UK, I think.

Nice to get the contract for the Green plastic bits on the barrier .... one every metre, for 3000 km !

And then while busy plotting waypoints on my GPS at 70 mph, I miss the turn off.  Jeremy & John don't, so I have to ride a further 15 miles to the next exit, and deciding not to try and return on the Toll Road, I go for the country lane option.... and lane it was !

Hope they are not worried about me !

Drying corn on every flat spot available.

Villages are a bit dirty !

And this pic is representative of Chinese progress ... the track at the base of the pillars was the first road ... I'm taking the pic on the new road, while the even newer road on the pillars has just been opened.

No planning permission needed here.... if the people complain, shoot them.

And if the hill gets in the way, cut it out !

Not that she will ever benefit from a new 130 kmph highway.

Arriving in Dongchuan.

And despite the fact that I had taken a 40 km detour, I was surprised to find I still got to the hotel before Jeremy & John.  Made the acquaintance of the assistant manageress, who insisted on a photo.   Don't forget, people here have never seen a "big bike" before .... and Westerners are a pretty rare sight too.

Now most hotels provide shampoo and if you are lucky, a mini-bar ... this one had an interesting selection of, lets call them accessories, in the room.....

.... and when I checked out, I had only used one !

Once J & J had arrived, we went in search of a bar, and I sniffed out this roof-top venue....

After that, we found a "Fast food chicken place" ... a sort of Chinese KFC/McDonalds cross.. which meant kids birthday parties.  Bloody Nirvana for me of course, and they didn't waste any time in coming over to annoy me...

Got given this ... still not sure if was from Mum or Daughter !

So once our bellies were full, J & J wasted no time in getting back to the room to blog away .... not for me ... back to the rooftop bar, and now night had fallen, the plaza below was filled with dancing couples.

And bugger me, those bloody kids turned up again....

It was getting close to midnight and I was just about to leave, when Ken (one of the Swiss lads) had heard about my whereabouts, and joined me .... only to get mobbed too...

Still, it took the heat off me.

Oh, that item I used from the room..... the shampoo of course !

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 !