Day10 April 19 - Datong to Zouyun

Deep Fried Lamb Rib Mongolian Style - Best ever tested
Dusty and dirty with strong wing blowing
Zuoyun town roundabout
Welcome tower b4 entry to Zuoyun
Signboard often written in Chinese charactor

Bike accessaries at the club house
Picture taken at the front of the club house b4 riding to Yungang
Three sweet Chinese riders from Datong University
Group picture at the Yungang entrance

Today's Distance: 66.8km
Average Speed: 12.9 max:32.5
Time on Bike: 4 hr 40 min
Ave climb: 1% max:7%
Max Altitude: 1365
Today's spending: 30 rmb
Total Distance to date: 553.0km
Total spending to date:964.50 rmb

In Datong all good things comes to an end this morning when we had to bid farewell to our fellow cyclists from Datong Wildcamel club,they took the trouble to ride with us for 14 km to Yungang

we shake hands and hug one another! Everyones were sad. Once on the road,dust headwind & trucks continues to threaten us,at one stage I had to stop and turn my back to avoid the duststorm.However we had a wonderful lunch with deep fired lamb rib Mongolian style,mind you ,this the best lamb that i ever tested. At 5.30pm put up a nite at roadside guest house in Zuoyun cos' everyone look tired and the wing is looking more & more wild.

A blog without pictures is not a blog

King of the road with broad shoulder.How i wish everyday the same
This unexpected guest came visit our room for food
Who is this man shilvering like a rock in this part of the world?
I donno why they built this for?
A common giant prtrol station in China

A shepherd daily life, I wonder there is enough grassland for the goat
A shepherd with his good companion
Taking a rest in order to go a longer distance
Slaughtered goat carried in a motorbike for the market
A sweet young lady offering me a ride on a school bus.

Day 9 April 18 Another day in Datong

Done a complete cleaning and lubrication on my recumbent
Happy times with the wildcamel cycling club members
BBQ and beer
with club president Mr Woo
Another club members Mr Jie

Due to the warm hospitality of the Datong wildcamel members ,we decided to stay here for another day.A day of shopping and cleaning of the dirty bike and lubrication on the chain.So far I am very please with this recumbent and that ways i must always make her clean and looks smart. This is also a day of over spending. I bought a new air inflated sleeping matt for 210 rmb and a wind breaker long pant for 150 rmb. We also shared to hold a BBQ in return for their kindness. Tomorrow we will be leaving this place and they wanted to ride with us to say good-bye. I hope one day they will come visit Malaysia and i will have the opportunity to do the same or better.

Day 8 April 17 Datong to Yunggun back to Datong

Rode to Yunggun world heritage site with Wildcamel cycling club members

Recumbent always becomes center of attraction to the Chinese
Thank you this chinese lady Li Zhi for making the local dumplings for our dinner

Today's Distance: 38.5km
Average Speed: 19.8 max:44.5
Time on Bike: 1 hr 56 min
Ascent: ave 1% max: 3%
Max altitude: 1133
Today's spending: 1 rmb
Total Distance to date: 486.2km
Total spending to date:510.5 rmb

Today together with the wildcamel club members rode to the tourist town of Yunggun abt 15km fr Datong. Only Heather went in to visit the world heritage site .entrance fee is 60 rmb,rather expensive for me to go in. furthermore i had over spend on the new sleeping bag.The dinner were prepared by few beautiful Chinese university students .

Day 7 April Yanggao to Datong

This was our 3rd night of camping at Yanggao after we were turn away
Ice droplets formed in the morning on top of my tent
A grand welcome dinner hosted for us by the wildcamel club members
A yum yum local dishes that were ordered
A school bus with school children offering us a ride b4 Yanggao

Today's Distance: 66.0km
Average Speed: 14.8 max: 52.o
Time on Bike: 4 hr 28 min
Ascent: ave 2% max: 7%
Max altitude: 1302 m
Today's spending: 185 rmb
Total Distance to date: 447.7
Total spending to date: 509.5 rmb

The morning woke up found my tent were having ice droplets when i tried to flip them away with my hands. I donno how i survive the nite. The temp must have dropped to zero! It was rather a boring ride along the 301 highway as you only see cars / trucks speeding away and most of the few houses that we saw were deserted due to lack of business. We didn't have a good breakfast except for a cup of hot coffee. 50km to Datong was not that easy as we thought as we rode against a strong headwind and down to 10 -15 km/h most of the time. Luckily there was a nice downhill 10 km b4 Datong and i recorded 52km/h. We called up Mr Jie from the wildcamel clib and were directed to their club house. The club has a bike store that sell frame and accessaries.

They happily invited us to stay here as to save money for our journey ahead. Jolly nice people here. I bought a thicker sleeping bag from the club for 165 rmb,very cheap and tested really keeps me warm. The best is we were given a grand welcome dinner just like a Chinese wedding dinner back home. I almost got myself drunk after several round of "yum seng" means Cheers in english.

Day 6 April 15 Xingping to Yanggao

Picture taken with the Wildcamel Cycling Club from Datong we met on the way to Yanggao
Snowy ice formed at the stream on the way to Yanggao
Heavy trucks also pilling at the small gravel road
Picture taken from Top of the mountain 1487m b4 this awful downhill all the way to Yanggao
Cyclometer showing the height at 1337m with temp 10 degree C

Today's Distance: 66.0km
Average Speed: 12.6 max: 56.0
Time on Bike: 5 hr 13 min
Ascent: ave 3% max: 11%
Max altitude: 1487m
Today's spending: 19 rmb
Total Distance to date: 381.7km
Total spending to date:324.5 rmb

Another day another province from Hebei to Shanxi and the hill continues from one end across the mountain to the other at highest point 1487m. On the way ,I was stopby 2 cars and about 10 chinese came out and introduced that they are from the Datong wildcamel cycling club .They insisted we stopover at Datong to exchange experience about cycling.Datong was not on our plan earlier as we plan to go Xinghe. Touched by their hospitality,we agreed but we told them we will reach Datong only by tomorrow which is 50km from Yanggao. Arrived Yanggao almost 6 pm and planned to stay in a "ping quan'' and hope for a nice warm shower. After checking in with our bags and bikes,then the unexpected happen ,one man dressed in his grey coat an shinning leather shoes told us to pack our staff to go to the police station to register and let them decide for us way to stay. We heard about this ruling from fellow travellers b4 ,we and the Hotel owner could get fines if we failed to do that. We were not happy on this as we knew it will be expensive if we follow. We rode out almost in the dark out of the town. We spotted deserted brick houses by the roadside on the way to Datong. Permission given by the farmers , we quickly setup our tents and cook rice for dinner but Ulla were too tired to eat,she were already well asleep b4 I and Heather have dinner.

Day 5 April 14 Zhangjiakou to Xingping

Shaking hand with the friendly policeman in Xingping
Traditional coal operated oven in our guesthouse room with our dinner
Heather/Ulla having dinner on the bedroom
Gueathouse owner sons who speaks faily well that they learn in school
3 wheels motor truck commonly seem carrying the dry cone leaf to feed the animals or covering houses.

Today's Distance: 80.9km
Average Speed: 13.4 max:36.5
Time on Bike: 5 hr 59min
Ascent: ave 1% max:6%
Max altitude: 1043m
Today's spending: rmb 33.50
Total Distance to date: 315.7km
Total spending to date: rmb 305.50

We hit a record distance today 80.9km.This was achieved by taking on a side road with less traffic . little towns that we rode passed were houses built on red brick and often donkeys were seem common for the villagers as transport.By 4 pm we settled down in one of the roadside guesthouse catered mostly for the truck drivers. There was no bathroom but a warm oven with coal as fuel to wipe our body clean. The toilet is just a brick wall and a hole for you to do the big one. And anyway as you like for the small one . There were 2 policemen in their patrol car came to visit us and have photos taken in the room . They even show off their Nikon digital camera that cost rmb4000. I don't think they have that much of money to buy that staff .

Day 4 April 13 Xiahuayuan to Zhangjiakou

Two nice Chinese youngsters Gave us a free warm welcome in Zhangjiakou
Lunch time together with a group of factory workers on the way to Zhangjiakou
Hummmm... pork fried with green chili in a typical chinese coal oven
Air pollution in many of the factories in China
Riding our way up a steep mountain on the way to Zhangjiakou

Today's Distance: 66.8km
Average Speed: 11.8 max: 46.5
Time on Bike: 5 hr 38 min
Ascent: ave 3% max:11%
max altitude: 746m
Today's spending: rmb36
Total Distance to date: 234.8km
Total spending to date: rmb 272

Beautiful and bright sunlight morning ride at 8 am . Road is still hilly and winding along route 201. Ulla is still weak and having flu. Heather and I waited for her on several occasions. Lunch at one of the factory canteen catered mostly for the workers. We found out that the rice we took actually meant for the workers b'cos we saw the some of the workers only eating dumplings. We said sorry to them and i think they understand and gave us a warm welcome with many questions thrown at me. Real fun chatting with them. The sudden appearance of us in this remote part of China is totally unexpected to them. By 5.40pm reaached Zhangjiakou and again 2 chinese youngster volunteer to give us a free treat in one of the town restaurant that easily cost them over 100 rmb with 4 bottle of local beer. Thet are very friendly and even brought in the photographer to take pictures with them. They also helped us to find a cheap stay for 50 rmb a room with hot shower.