Ni Hao from Lijiang. Have had a couple of days hard cycling to get here from Dali. Scenery is beautiful, with high, wooded mountains and cultivated terraces, mainly of rice and corn, but some tobacco. Chilli pepper plants are slipped into every available space (and chilli peppers into every dish). Passed a Bai (local people) market place on the way - several acres of sheer pandemonium. Passed brick yards on the way, where oxen were used to squish up a pit full of wet clay. Nearby were smoking kilns. On the second day riding from Eryuan to Lijiang we bit off [View Full Entry]

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Arrived in Kunming last Saturday (22nd Sept). What a crazy chaotic country this is. First two days extremely stressful with the huge culture difference and communication barriers. Saved by employee of the month at Kunming airport who found us a clapped out van and drove us round Kunming looking for hotel and ATMs. Now have spent 5 days on the road and much more comfortable. Passed everything on the roadside leaving Kunming - dead pigs, live pigs, pony carts, pedicabs and an old man holding aloft what appeared to be a curved walking staff, but on closer inspection, as we passed, [View Full Entry]

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Hello all. Here's your first bulletin from Hong Kong. We have now got our 90 day visas for China and have been biding our time doing touristical things. Staying on Lantau Island which is off HK Island by 30 min ferry ride. An excellent antidote to the noise and bustle of HK and a fraction of the cost. Gawped at Big Bhuddas on the day that we arrived but was so tired that I fell asleep everytime that I sat down. Visited the tiny fishing village of Tai O on Lantau where the livelihood seems to involve drying unidentified fish parts [View Full Entry]

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Thank you all for a wonderful send off at the Royal Oak this weekend. It was great that there were so many there. I'm sure that many of you were looking around and thinking "who are all these people?" I know I was. I had planned to say a few words, to introduce all our "families", but you were making too much racket and I was rapidly becoming incoherent. So instead, please see the who's who of photos. Unfortunately, I omitted to snap quite a few friends and neighbours, which is a shame as some had come from as far afield [View Full Entry]

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Had a leisurely ride back into Austria to camp at a lovely site beside Turner See, overlooking the mountains in Slovenia and wondering how we ever managed to get across them. Cycled virtually all the way into Klagenfurt on a beautiful cycle path beside a river/dam for hydroelectic power. The path delivered us right to the campsite that we first used, and the next day the cycle path delivered us right to the airport. If only it were that easy over here. [View Full Entry]

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Had a short ride to Otocek, uneventful apart from Diane falling off her bike in Novo Mesto trying to negotiate a cycle path. Following day rode on to Catez amongst lots of rain showers and spent a few half hours in well appointed bus shelters. Visited a monastery, but didn t do the tour as the early tour was full and the next available was in Slovenian. There was a very muscular monk in the shop, so I think they must have a gym in there. Beautiful farmland scenery, every house has tiny vineyards and corn growing right up to [View Full Entry]

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Sunday 10th June - Moved away from the flat lands of the East towards the city of Maribor. The hills were welcome and the scenery much nicer - back to the small holdings and attractive villages. Had a trip through Austria and back into Slovenia via a very pretty, and highly manicured, walled town called Radkersberg. Must have some claim to fame with regard to the penny farthing as there is a sculpture of one and an inscription on a house regarding some penny farthing related event that took place there. By some miracle of navigation managed to get out of [View Full Entry]

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Set off South from Kobarid, not intending to visit Nova Gorrica, but took a wrong turn and ended up there anyway. Confirmed original decision, as it is a bit of an armpit. Took another wrong turn and ended up in Italy. Tried to sneak back into Slovenia via back road but border guard politely said "crvčlk zu čbij lkja yasaka čhy contrpsksa" (where do you think you re going, not through my border you ain t" So went back through original post and fought our way out of the congestion of NG. Next got hit by torrential downpour and couldn [View Full Entry]

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Spent the day cycling up the Soca valley, beside the river Soca, which is a turquoise green glacial river. The valley is very beautiful - through wooded mountains. Lots of canoeing, hiking and biking around here. Stopped in a cafe to try the local speciality of the valley, which turned out to look like a steamed cornish pasty filled with apple, nuts and cinnamon and covered in syrup - ideal cycling fare. Valley has a turbulent past - lots of WW1 graves and battle sites.. Weather improved dramatically. Richard peddaling along with solar panels drapped over panniers. Only takes a [View Full Entry]

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Arrived safely in Klagenfurt, bikes intact thanks to careful handling by Ryan Air. Couple of nice days around the lakes of Austria and then the first mountain pass into Slovenia. 18% gradient appears to be the only road sign the authorities have! Diane walked to Slovenia and was serviously annoyed that Richard had turned down a tractor ride to the top of the pass and international border point. Three days of rain followed, including two nights of torrential rain. Tent held up well. Lake Bled & Bohinje beautiful, but better in the sun. All farming very rural and traditional. Just [View Full Entry]

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