Ni hao,
We will set a day for Baoji-Tianshui, 179 km! ...
We left yesterday morning for driving Baoji the G310, road engulfed in dense green mountains. We begin with a short climb, the sun, but also refreshing wind. We were surprised that this road has heavy traffic before Baoji, is suddenly very very quiet. We had not had this in China. Alone on a road! The road looked semi-closed with cement blocks closing the road, but ajar enough to let cars, mini buses, and we of course. We also find it odd that this road is poorly signposted from the outskirts of town. We help to find facts, we were even accompanied to the cement blocks. We heard a lot of things we do not understand!
We are passing through long tunnels. I was glad that there is no traffic in these circumstances. Then a long descent to a first village. 25 kms of fact. By far down, I see Rupert stopped talking to the police. Simple matters of curiosity I guess ... I say at the same time Rupert was that it would be a good time to stop eating. It is still 13h. The police, with translators, we asked for our passports and informed us that this section of road (Baoji-Tianshui) was closed to foreigners! Really? We had heard of the famous "forbidden roads" in China, sections like this a bit random, but we thought it was especially more to the west. In addition, we had read the blog of a family of cyclists who had passed by in 2008 (now, we say that it was at the time of the earthquake in the region and that the police had better things to do .. .). We ask why and the only answer is: "Chinese law is." Then the trouble to insist, after almost two months here, we know there is nothing to do with this answer!
No lunch for us at the moment. The police told us we must go Tianshui train or bus! OK for a bus that passes over this road. We are told there is none. We are asked to return to Baoji! No way for us to trace what comes down with nothing in the stomach. To 30 kms in reverse, no! A van was stopped there. Asked if they can take us. Police asked the driver, who has no choice to refuse of course. It obeys ... It is therefore accompany a police station in Baoji, escorted by the black car of the aliens' police! From there, we should follow up to the train station. We had time to swallow some plums before leaving. A train station, we learn that alone is a 22h, otherwise tomorrow. Arrive at 1am, free hotel, with our daughter, no way! Our 2 guys seek the solutions for us. One takes the opportunity to ask me too many questions and taking notes. I refuse to give details, in which cities and when we pass. Suddenly, a solution came by mobile phone. A bus at 16:40 at the station not too far from where it is (another bus station was located at the other end of town ...) can we take with all our affairs. Coca-Cola and orange juice and we renfourchent our frames after that the police ask us to take a picture! I tried to ask how we could have known that this road was closed, not very clear answer. Apparently, not very far from the statue of Mao that is a sign "stop" with her hand, there is little sign, just written in Chinese, indicating the prohibition ... This remains to be confirmed, but I made the suggestion to write in English for tourists ... if this is their address. We were treated to a verbal warning because we have been inadvertently prohibited on a highway ...
It is therefore accompany him to the bus station. We check that our tickets bought well. VIP buses with leather seats. The bus does not leave until 17.40. We have time to eat our lunch. Phew! A crowd of people around us. I'm suffocating! I send them walk in french. They do nothing and let off steam ca! We finally leave. The bus takes the highway that runs along the road we should take. Beautiful road in the mountains. The G310 looks deserted, as all the villages. It seems that even the road was partly abandoned. Something strange, but we will not know what! The highway is largely constituted of tunnels, one of perhaps 10 km. It's impressive. We arrive at 20h and Tianshui has sought a hotel soon. I get out of visiting a room when I see, I say, 50 people around Rupert holding 2 bikes and Oceanne in his trailer. A man almost attack me so I do Oceanne out of his trailer. I refuse. I'm suffocating! Quickly to the house. Phew!
Today we took a day off. Arrived late yesterday, I did not feel able to take the road today. We visited a Taoist temple, the temple Fu Xi. Tomorrow, we start from Lanzhou to about 350 kms. We 1200m, and have to spend several passes above 2000 before reaching Lanzhou 1600m. Our visa expires a second time on July 1. It is hoped to renew the earth.
My paternal grandfather died June 21 I learned to Baoji. I really felt at the other end of the world, more so than now for almost 2 months. Very very far from my family, I wanted to be next to my parents. I think you have very strong right now. Life goes on. Lots of love to the family Charpentier.
you soon,
Dorothee
0 comments:
Post a Comment