Day 18 April 27 - Staying another day in Dongsheng/Ordors

school children occupying almost the whole of the internet to play games
This is the internet that we done the updates
A giant shopping mall in Dongsheng
Mongolian roasted lamb again
School girls practising English they learnt in school with Heather

Today's spending: 105.50 rmb
Total Distance to date: 0 Total spending to date: 1335.50 rmb

No riding today as we plan to spend the whole morning on the internet updates. We know you people out there is looking forward, so we never like to miss any opportunities to bring you the latest.so long you continue to give your full support,I will continue to pedal.....

Day 17 April 26 - Guesthouse to Dongsheng/ Ordors

Mr Woo and wife offering us a breakfast
Genghis Khan statue in front of the Mongolian Restaurant
A secondary school in Dongsheng
Ordors Museum
Dongsheng town centre

Today's Distance: 13 km
Average Speed: 10.8 max: 41.0
Time on Bike: 1 hr 09 min
Ave climb: 3% max: 8%
Trip altitude: 77 m max: 1448 m
Today's spending: 92 rmb
Total Distance to date: 931 km
Total spending to date: 1230 rmb

Today is a short ride into the town centre of Dongsheng or in Mongolian word " Ordors " . We had a free breakfast of "You Cha Kuai",hot soya beam and herble eggs from Mr Woo who came into our room to make the offer.He owned a tire shop selling Chinese brand "Goodride" he said the rubber which produce the tire is imported from Malaysia and soon he will be making a trip to Malaysia. He also brought us to visit the Mongolian restaurant which often performs cultural shows. Dongsheng is a very big and modern city after Beijing that we came across so far. Less polluted,clean . We are very happy to find an internet outlet after checking into a 4 star Hotel with hot shower and very spacious room. Room cost 145 rmb . We visited the Ordors Museum

in town and were truely impressed by the English speaking staff and also the ancient copperwares from northern China on display.

Day 16 April 25 - Guesthouse to guesthouse 10 km to Dongsheng

Guest house stay for normally 10rmb per person by the road side
Mongolian dome selling daily food staff
Patching a leak on the tube
The shop nearby kind enough to borrow me a basin of water to check the where the leakage
Lunch time always with rice - carbo loading

Today's Distance: 74 km
Average Speed: 10.4 max:51.5
Time on Bike: 7 hr 02 min
Ave climb: 3% max: 11%
Trip altitude: 1024 m max: 1511 m
Today's spending: 28.5 rmb
Total Distance to date: 918 km
Total spending to date: 1138.0 rmb

Rather unlucky day for me as I had my first flat tire since leaving Beijing and into my 16 days. It took me 20 min to change a new tube and also patch up the minor leak.I couldn't find the cause of it after checking the circumference of the tire. It could be from the torn of certain grass as we had been warned by the wildcamel not to park our bike near the side grass as the torn is very sharp and long. so far I havn't seen them yet. Today we rode the longest time of 7 hr 2 min but only covered 74 km is a clear reflection of a tough & hilly ride!

Day 15 April 24 - JungarQi to guesthouse 80km to Dongsheng

Workers risking their lifes to pain the wall building with just ropes hanging from the top
Often in hotel or guesthouse we don't find hangers for our staff,this is a common scene in our room
Ulla and Heather busy packing for another day ride
Construction of a fly-over
Noodles with potatos and meat cooked in a pressurised cooker.very good,no left over

Today's Distance: 54 km
Average Speed: 11.0 max: 52.0
Time on Bike: 4 hr 58 min
Ave climb: 3% max: 11%
Trip altitude: 789 m max: 1262 m
Today's spending: 29 rmb
Total Distance to date: 844 km
Total spending to date: 1109.50 rmb

Good sunny morning and we started an hour late at 9.00am after free breakfast at the Hotel.The hills continues ups & downs.From route x103 now we are back on G109,but the road seems to be narrower than the earlier G109.We actually is more worried to be hit by the trucks than the hills.At one stage of the climb and a sudden strong wing blowing directly to me,I lost my balance and I had my fist fall from the bike since leaving Beijing,fortunately nothing serious happened to me nor the bike Thank God! There was no town in between JungarQi to Dongsheng.Settled in a guesthouse for 10 rmb per person and Dongsheng is still some 80 km away.Tomorrow will be another day of hard riding.

Day 14 April 23 - Dukou Qi to Jungar Qi

Yellow river view with low water level
Breaking of the tar surface on top of the bridge but trucks don't give a damn!
Blossom flowers
Two policemen offering mineral waters instead of summon
Dummy policemen by the road side

Roasted lamb again for lunch at Namwan You can see a lots of these stone sign reminding the drivers to drive and reach home safely

Smiling and happy just like the blossom flowers

Today's Distance: 66 km
Average Speed: 12.2 max:56
Time on Bike: 5 hr 22 min
Ave climb: 3% max: 10%
Trip altitude: 760 m max: 1284 m
Today's spending: 57 rmb
Total Distance to date: 790 km
Total spending to date: 1080.50 rmb

Very cold morning with dizzling rain,temp at 3-4 degree C ,put on 4 layers of upper clothings ,2 layers of long bottoms,socks and hand grooves,still my feet like icy cold due to riding recumbent the feet is up all the times.The climb continues but were less steep than earlier days.We saw more greenery and flowers for the 1st time. We crossed the Yellow river at Namwan after lunch. The bridge is under repaired and there was a signboard " NO CROSSING" but the trucks don't seem to care.If a heavy truck can cross with no problem,I am sure ours bikes won't cause the bridge to fall ,right? Two policemen in their uniform flag me down,not to summon but offering mineral waters for us after knowing our grand mission.Disappointed at reaching Jungar Qi could not find any internet from the 3 star Hotel that we are paying for 120rmb.

Day 13 April 22 - Qingshuihe to Guest house in Dukou Qi

A Malaysian flag in front flying always reminds me that mission must be completed!

Have fun with the Chinese construction workers mixing cement to plaster the wall
Ulla is coming behind while I taking a rest
Bridge across the drying up river bed at Qingshuihes

Today's Distance: 66 km
Average Speed: 12.7 max: 62.5
Time on Bike: 5 hr 13 min
Ave climb: 4% max:12%
Trip altitude: 742 m max:1636 m
Today's spending: 39 rmb
Total Distance to date: 724 km
Total spending to date: 1023.50 rmb

Qingshuihe is a very busy village town located in a valley, you can see lots of markets stall selling vegetables,fruits,eating outlets. There is a river running across the town , but the water level is very low due to no rain. We have to divert from route G109 to G209 as told by the locals that G109 is bad with gravel surface for 30 km and this is certainly not good for our bike with no suspension. G209 is going Northward to Holhot but we will have to make a left turn to Namwan.

Day 12 April 21 - Village camp to another camp

This stone say "The famous long march ended here"
This is the original great wall without any human restoration. Dome shape in the picture is the guard house
Farmers houses in dome shaped
Camping in a dome-shaped meant for the animals
My comfortable tent with my new air matress

Villages or food stall using well water for daily consumption
Qingshuihe our next destination still 82km to go
Parked and have lunch
A very very welcome sign when you are tired
Wild camel protected area when crossing to Inner Mongolia province

Today's Distance: 48 km
Average Speed: 11.3 max:63
Time on Bike: 4 hr 10 min
Ave climb: 4% max:25%
Trip altitude: 659 m max:1677 m
Today's spending: 20 rmb
Total Distance to date: 658 km
Total spending to date: 984.50 rmb

Hills,hills,hills seems never ending.I was at my lowest gear most of the times clocking 4-6 km/h,but never have to get down to push. Today both climbing and altitude recorded new heights 25% and 1677m resp.We alsocrossed from Shanxi to Inner Mongolia province .It's a very tough day ,we are so tired and wear out to find a camping spot domb in shape normally used by the farmers to keep the cow. For the 2nd time the owner came with a torchlight when we are abt to sleep. He apparently is happy with my explaination on how & why we landed here.

Day 11 April 20 - Zuoyun to village camping

Sometimes the GPS doesn't work so better to ask!
Nothing come easy,all good scenery also comes with hard pedalling
Wind protected houses often can be seen on both sides of the road
In English: Safty comes with alert , accident happens caused by numbness
Village camping

Guess how much is this 3 wheels Chinese made vehicle cost?
A Chinese kindergarden teacher who teaches both Mandarin and English
Chinese farmers always worked in a group
Resting in one of the bus stop

Today's Distance: 57 km
Average Speed: 11.7 max: 53
Time on Bike: 4 hr 51 min
Ave climb: 3% max: 11%
Max Altitude: 1541 m
Today's spending: 24 rmb
Total Distance to date: 610 km
Total spending to date: 988.50 rmb

Today again rode into a series of hills with max height recorded as 1541m beating the previous one at 1487m. There are hardly any shop houses except for farm villages .Traffic is very very less and the feeling is like entering into another world,so peaceful and calm. Lunch at Youyu with lamb again , Looks like lunch time is our main food , often breakfast and dinner is simple. Heather/Ulla both love lamb and beers.The hills seems to be endless at 5.30pm we put up a camp near the village. The village farmers all gathered around us and even helped us to pitch the tent.