Day 31 May 09 - WuWei staying another day

Early morning rain in WuWei ,2nd time in a month
Heather and I can't finish the noodles and the lamb stick
An ancient landmark right in the center of WuWei town
Shops in WuWei
Flying horse a simbol of WuWei

Today's spending: 80 rmb
Total spending to date: 1904.20 rmb

It was always good to stay for another day in a big town with internet to do blog updates and also wash all our dirty clothings.We also get to do some shopping and opportunity to rest after few days of back to back cycling. Tomorrow we will be heading to somewhere in between Zhangye which is 240 km from WuWei. See you all in the next update!

Day 30 May 09 - Dajing to WuWei

Beautiful houses on the way to Baitasi but all the doors are closed
A fort built in the field
A happy family who runs a sundry shop
My bike stand sometimes can't fight with the strong wind
A well kept and clean muslim restaurant

Hoping a tailwind with a 45 degree right turn at Shungta ,but it did not come
Baitasi entrance, a tourist spot in Liangzhu another name for WuWei
Chinese graveyard on the fields,a place where the deads spent most of their live
Baitasi marked the siging ceremony of Tibet comes under China
Broken pieces of chinese beer bottles ,a threat to our tires

Today's Distance:111km
Average Speed:15.1 max:62.5
Time on Bike:7 hr 22 min
Ave climb:2% max:7%
Trip altitude:512m max:1937m
Today's spending:75 rmb
Total Distance to date:1890km
Total spending to date:1824.20 rmb

The wind conditions and directions can be very tricky and unpredictable here and this somehow will determine our distance for the day.This morning when I woke up at 6.30am and noticed that a tailwind is blowing on direction we are heading west on route 308.Without wasting time,we quickly packed and go without me having breakeast while Heather have her usual oak and coffee. Unfortunately the tailwind lasted for only 1 hour and changed blowing on our leftside ,nevertheless we had already clocked 30km.Until we reached Shungta for lunch ,the GPS indicate that a right 45 degree turn,that means a tailwind for us 45km all the way to WuWei.But our happiness was shortlived as the wind suddenly stop blowing.It was calm and hot ride to a tourist spot called Baitasi , 3 km off the route. This is the official signing place where Tibet come under the Chinese rule. About 10km before WuWei ,the wind became wild again,the sands and dusts were flying straight to our face.Visibility is poor and this really slow us down.At 6.00pm we settled in a rather expensive guesthouse with bathroom attached for 30rmb each,as we felt a good warmshower is a MUST,afterall we had our last warmshower in Yinchuan 6 days ago,make worst with today's sand/dust blow.

Day 29 May 08 - Shanshawo to Dajing

So far I am very satisfied with this recumbent ,no problem eventhough fully loaded
Schoolchildren admiring my bike
Crossing to Gangsu province from NIngXia
Mountain not a single tree
Part of the Great Wall still can be seen untouched

"beautiful mountain and nice road ahead" ,the starts of a torture ride!
Wild purple flowers that grows on the sand
Young chinese shaolin master for the future
Heather caught me and the bike took a tumble with a helping hand later
Mr Jia and Zhang spent us a free dinner

Today's Distance:64 km
Average Speed:10.4 max:47.0
Time on Bike:6 hr 5 min
Ave climb:2% max:10%
Trip altitude:727 m max:2134 m
Today's spending:32.50 rmb
Total Distance to date:1779 km
Total spending to date:1749.20 rmb

"Gone with the wind" is best to describe for today's 1st 30km ride as half of our pedalling energy was gone wasted to battle extreamly strong headwind on climing.I did a simple calculation: We normally hit 50-60km by lunchtime at 12 noon, but we only did 30km and forced to stop for lunch( biscults/peanuts) beside a bridge under hot sun.In this place,is very barren,no trees,no shops,only saw workers repairing bad roads occasionaly.Both sides only sand domes and rocks with little bushes survive.However we had a quick beef noodle in a box (just add hot water) to fill our starving stomach in a small sundry shop just before a well rewarding 10km downhill to a valley of crop fields. At 5.30pm we reached a row of restaurants and guesthouses just after a junction 3km to Dajing.We met 2 Chinese truck drivers Mr Zhang & Jia who also put up at the same guesthouse.They are on their way to deliver goods in Inner Mongolia.Free dinner again,my friends!

Day 28 May 07 - Mongolian Village resort camp to Shanshawo

Cosy environment inside the cave room
Picture with Heather "my wife" as claimed by many locals,so far our relation is goodddd!
Double railway tracks viewed from the hilltop
Mongolian words like little creatures walking
Resort boss Mr Liu bidding farewell to us at the gate

Today's Distance:94 km
Average Speed:14.5 max:44.5
Time on Bike:6 hr 31 min
Ave climb:2% max:7%
Trip altitude:688 m max:1724 m
Today's spending:31.50 rmb
Total Distance to date:1715 km
Total spending to date:1716.70 rmb

After having a very good sleep at the Mongolian yurt,morning wake-up is hard with all the usual packing.The resort boss Mr Liu and his staff already came to our yurt ready with his digital camera to bid us farewell.We indeed felt like VIP to them .Back on the route s201 , it was hills after hills for the very 1st 20km at highest peak 1724m,but it was gradual and I can manage with my 2nd chainring,furthermore there was a strong tailwind to push us.Weather is hot at 34C but hardly sweat unlike in Malaysia. Local graveyards of Buddhist and Christian can be seen only on our lefthand side hill slope and on righthand side is the double track railway lines.Goodbye to NingXia as we entered Gangsu Province at a town called Yingpanshui.We decidd to ride further to Shanshawo to stay as the time is still too early.Shanshawo,a very small village town,we can't find in GPS,Goggle,or any of our maps.From the info gathered , the next 2 days to WuWei will be tough and moutainous.How tough is tough? We will see....

Day 27 May 06 - ZhongWei to Mongolian Village Resort camp

Taking a rest at a tourist spot at Shapotou
Heather is writing her journal in a laptop in Mongolian yurt
Enjoying a hilltop scenery at the Mongolian village resort
Group photo with thw resort staff
Cave rooms built inside the hill

Dumplings and beef noodles for breakfast
Chinese in China no spoon provided only bamboo chopstick,so you have to hold the bowl to drink the soup
Camels ride in tourist spot at Shapotou
Shapotou valley viewed from the top ,a Golden gate bridge across the Yellow River
Pictures with the Shapotou tourist guides

Today's Distance:30 km
Average Speed:13.5 max: 52.0
Time on Bike:2 hr 11 min
Ave climb:2% max: 8%
Trip altitude:228 m max: 1386 m
Today's spending:98.50 rmb
Total Distance to date: 1621 km
Total spending to date:1685.20 rmb

Today's plan is supposed to be 91 km to a town called Dajing a border small town between NingXia and Gangsu province,but the journey was cut short by a surprise attraction that leads us to a stay in a Mongolian village resort camp.What impressed me is the panaromic views of the surroundings from top of the hill,beautiful! there are about 12-15 rooms built in a hill cave,the air inside is rally refreshing.On some hilltops,they built shaded rest seat for you to enjoy the scenery while having a cup of coffee or beer.At the back is a double track railway lines ,you can see the trains passing by frequently overlooking the famous Tenggeri Desert.At nite deep fried lamb and karaoka,all for a cost of 70 rmb each + lodging. Earlier on,we also pass-by a tourist spot in Shapotou claimed as one of 5 most beautiful desert and 10 most popular tourist attraction in China.

Day 26 May 05 - QingtongXia - ZhongWei

Roadside food stall may looks delicious but could be the cause of food poisoning

Beautiful chinese architecture bridge in QingtongXia
A chinese young lady farmer working in the field ,a red headscaff commonly wore to avoid sunburn
Chinese encouraging word charectors always can be seen on the hills

Today's Distance: 120 km
Average Speed: 17.6 max: 39.5
Time on Bike: 6 hr 50 min
Ave climb: 2 % max: 4 %
Trip altitude: 339 m max: 1212 m
Today's spending: 51 rmb
Total Distance to date: 1591 km
Total spending to date: 1586.70 rmb

Another hot hot day on the road.But this time we had a tailwing almost for the whole journey.I am back on my element today after a mild food poisoning yesterday.Scenery along the road pratically the same with tall green trees on both sides and farmers are busy working in the fields with good irrigation where water is efficently directed to the fields.Many small towns that we passed by with high population as this section of NingXia province is lowland and the soil is fertile for crops.We had no problem in terms food and lodging. By 5.30pm we rode in to ZhongWei. The 1st guesthouse,knowing we are foreigners ,tried to con us for 150 rmb for a double bed room,when she saw my displeasure,she quickly reduces to 100.When I walked away ,she asked "how much?""Forget it!" I told myself ,refuses to bargain with dishonest people.We finally settled with a 50 rmb room and the goodthing is an internet just next door!