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2.6.14
CHANGWU:
Distance: 84 Kms SubT. 1,775 Kms Bal 10,720 Kms Road Condition: Good
Weather: blue sky, then thick smog, coal dust, high humidity, 34C
Time in Saddle: 4.5 hrs Av Speed: av. 22 kph. Av Cadence. Rpm
Elevation: e 1500 m up; 1000m down multiple times
Calories burned : Thousands
......
Just discovered total distance is 12,650, NOT 12,150 I thought. So have added on 500 km to balance, damnit!
Endeavour to upload photos with most blogs, but often internet is to weak to sustain upload.
PLEASE NOTE NAME OF PLACE IN FORMAL BLOG TITLE MAY NOT RESEMBLE ANYTHING CLOSE TO THIS TOWN NAMED ABOVE. I DO NOT KNOW THE NAME OF THIS TOWN'S PROVINCE, AND THE SITE WONT OPEN UNLESS I PUT SOMETHING IN THE BOX. THIS WILL LIKELY BE THE FUTURE!!!
NB. Apple auto correction changes words after I have written something else. Hopefully this explains why sometimes it seems senseless. WILL LIKELY BE THE FUTURE!!!
Whilst the restaurants may have looked unappealing in Yangzhou, we had a very tasty meal across the street from the hotel. Town largely deserted on dusk,
couldn't even by an ice cream! Bed early but sleep wouldn't come. It may take some time to revert to my usual bed times!
Today left Yangzhou in cooler weather and semi clear of smog, skies making for a pleasant start. Road through farming land giving good vistas.
Turned off highway to avoid coal haulage trucks and their dust. The road wound up country steep hills passing a high perched temple. We then began a difficult descent, steep, pothole riven, banked curves, descending at 40kph, hanging on tight to the brakes. Made it in one piece. At bottom joined others and rode into lunch at 9am! Lunch stop was at The Great Buddha Temple Grottoes built in 650AD , then modified by subsequent dynasties. After an hour exploration, rode into Changwu, up and down some long, moderate climb, hills.
Changwu has an appealing look about it, clean, treed, and a busy market.
After showering and clothes washing and check in, takes about 90 mins, when sharing a room, went for a wander. People inquisitive and friendly, no English, so mime game skills are essential. Not much to look at as it turned out, market more clothing
and shoes and poor quality. Manufactured goods must all be exported or limited to key centres as these clothes looked like Lifeline hand me downs.
Ice cream still good and cheap. Hotel restaurant dinner was VG, the chief translator guide from Kashgar made another good selection. Day light is getting longer, so going to bed at 7 pm is more difficult. Not to say that the majority don't turn in then.
PINLIANG :
Distance: 124 Kms SubT. 1,895 Kms Bal 10,596 Kms Road Condition: good
Weather: cloudy and a little drizzle. Cooler. Good for riding.
Time in Saddle: 4 .5 hrs Av Speed: av. 25 kph. Av Cadence. Rpm
Elevation: e 650 m up; 490 m down multiple times
Calories burned : 4200
Glad to leave hotel. 1 out of 4 power points worked, no lights or a/c worked. Hot night. Left at 6 50 after av breakfast.
Road was good and country scenery of crops and mountains. Pleasant riding. We had a steep 4 km decline, clocked 60kph, my fastest time ever! Probably bought speed average up today! Directions were straight forward
and the flagging tape reliable. The TDA team is doing a good job.
I recall finding PINGLIANG on the map back on GC. It now appears to be a very forgettable place. A mixture of coal mining and agricultural centre. There are ever present fireworks erupting- scaring away evil spirits or celebration, who knows. I know I have described a lot of Chinese towns in this manner, but it is often difficult to see a redeeming feature from a traveller's perspective.
On route, passed some amazing rail and highway bridges, must be 30 stories high over farmland. Again the scale is staggering. Waiting at bridge construction spied an old man who allowed me to take his photo. Also saw an amazing police warning sign.
After cleaning up, went for a town walk. Nothing at all appealing other than a man in the central square/ parking lot selling tasty bread/buns. No cold drinks anywhere. Fridges used as storage cupboards or drinks cabinet with power off. Perhaps power is either expensive, intermittent, or the locals like warm drinks, surmise it's all three.
Hotel internet is unreliable, so hope this will load. First night's camping in 2 days, should
be interesting!
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Georgie
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Taking some great photos!!