Day 238 (China): km marker 2010 on G312 - km marker 1880 on G312 (jumping kms all over)

by markus

daily distance: 125km
total distance: 13,876km
riding time: 6-7h

I had a really good night and slept well. Here is where …

I packed up my belongings, looked for some food in Huining and headed out. But the best part of the day was early on, even before getting to the rather drab city (as most cities are here I feel). I came around a corner, a family of three standing there. Man, wife and 5-year old daughter. The three of them see me and all, at the same time, give me the thumbs-up sign. It was something I held on to for the rest of the day … when things weren’t so good. Like when this one driver almost ran me over. It was a bit of a close call.

Past Huining it was long uphill climbs and downhill sections … just as on the days prior, but they were all doable. This is serious agroland, apples and chili peppers being the order of the day. Maybe I am getting into warmer territory, judging by the fruits and veggies that are grown here. But: it was almost always 2C, no warmer. For a brief moment, temperatures rose to about 5C, but that was it.

I get a lot of stares here in China … so what do you? You can stare back, but that doesn’t seem to faze people the least. So most of the time I just wave back. Or move on when it gets too much. This one was different though …

I was watching some theater that was put up for people in the area … not much of a draw I would say.

And corn grow on trees …

The night was a bit special. After being turned away all over the place (you pull up and the hand goes no most of the time without even saying a word), I went into a greenhouse which was much warmer and given the minimum light I had left it was a good choice. Or so I thought at the time. I am not sure what is going on here with the people. Just no sense of hospitality? Or just plain rude? Or just not having ever been exposed to foreigners? This is serious farmland, nothing much going on and people living on little. I don’t know and am at a loss as to what the reasons may be.