Blogs from Yiwu, Zhejiang, China, Asia

XIJI: Distance: 140 Kms SubT. 2035 Kms Bal 10,456 Kms Road Condition: good Weather: sunny, blue sky, white puffy clouds. Cooler. Good for riding. Time in Saddle: 7 hrs Av Speed: av. 20 kph. Av Cadence. Rpm Elevation: 2070 m (x2) up; 1850 m ( x1) + another 1200m Calories burned : 6140 Didn't receive briefing on today's ride until this morning which makes it difficult as we must write down three boards of info quickly, whilst trying to avoid being in the way of some one taking note! Necessitated by the fact that a tunnel on the road we were intending to take collapsing recently, meaning an alternate route was required. So a 30km longer day and much more climbing, AND a different town tonight than planned. To get back on route will add an ... read more

Early rise this morning, we are booked on the 7.20 train to Yiwu. I have a very ill-timed nose bleed in the middle of morning preparations and as a result there are only twenty minutes left when we jump into a taxi and ask him to hurry for the main railway station. Fortunately the elevated highway is devoid of any major traffic jams and as we reach the station there are still a few minutes left. The unexpected security screening chews another precious minute on the way. Running through the station asking any official coming my way about the train to Yiwu we manage to find the proper track and board the train in time, we even have a minute or two to spare. We can let out big sighs of relief. The train we have ... read more