Day 106 & 107: Sandouping North/Dam to Shiyang - Sun 9 & Mon 10 Jun, 2013

Day 106 & 107: Sandouping North/Dam to Shiyang - Sun 9 & Mon 10 Jun, 2013
Sunday: Ah, woke to find we'd parked in the midst of the local jogging track, and were again the source of much interest. Different things for us to look at this time though, with model airplane flyers, and a man bowling a metal hoop along the road. Nice view over the suspension bridge without the noise too. Stopped at shop for drinking water, ATM for cash, hotel for bread. Not as humid so far this morning, people walking round in light rain coming up to parked vehicles, or those stopped at traffic lights, selling fruit and souvenirs from bags on shoulders, or on two ends of stick, with umbrella hats.

 











Morning tea rest area, fuel and water. Travelling through agricultural areas with modern equipment, big bridges over big rivers. Surprised how many wide waterways in China, massive span bridges, one after other in mountainous regions... but country is paying for massively impressive engineering (roads, tunnels, bridges), industrial infrastructure and development with pollution, far worse than our expectations esp since we are still 1000kms from east coast. So shocking that it covers so much territory - global warming is far more a reality here and now. Also seeing effort into gardens, trees, arboretums, parks, but it can’t offset the amount of filth being pumped into the atmosphere.

 









Smoggy and rainy - glad we are on highway. Sandwich lunch with new fresh bread in rest stop. Found free camp south of city in carpark of Botanical Gardens, on top of hill. Light rain, cold enough for sweatshirt, mists coming over hill, Andy running off into "jungle" when he discovered the toilet block was locked...

 

 







Cracked open eggs for dinner, almost all were bad (that will teach us not to buy from market stall instead of a supermarket) so threw them out in favour of, you guessed it, tomato and cheese sandwiches. We were talking to Cheryl on phone about tomorrow's arrangements when the guard finally discovered we were in his carpark - some animated discussions with Andy and he agreed we could stay overnight for Y10 (which we'll pay in morning...) If tomorrow is fine the fellows will work on their vehicles whilst waiting to rendezvous with our fellow travellers.

 

Minding the spot....

 

Monday: Overcast but not raining. Worms on ground, almost as long as a foot. Trying to capture on film small colony of large birds with long tail, that hover with wings and tail outspread (like an angel!), with raucous call like apostle birds or parrots, red- orange beak, blue back and banded tail (so annoying not to be able to ID!). BoyRob changed oil and filter; GirlRob cleaned ceiling, shower, floors and cream upholstery - and washed hair (it's the simple things that make life worthwhile...) Others arrived mid arvo – spent time sorting remainder of days in itinerary, to ensure travel days not heavy, and sufficient time for sightseeing, visas and visit to Webasto etc.