Songpan to Dujiangyan

Day 52 Monday 21st September 254 km ( 16590 km total)

Great roads, snow yaks & a mud bath

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I started the day with a breakfast at Emma's kitchen before heading off out of the town with the prospect of warmer weather as the route descended from the high plateaus. It was a lovely road, twisting its way along the river bank.

The chinese obsession with construction was still evident in a number of places, not clear where this bridge was going though - I guess they will bring the tunnel boring machine in later.

Some of the veiws from the road were truly beautiful.

As the descent continued we came across snow white yaks, positioned every so often at the side of the road. usually there was a bus load of tourists next to them having photos taken.

The Snow White Yak is the rarest color of Yak in the world accounting for only about 3% of the population. In Tibetan culture the White Yak is regarded as a divine animal, and in the past it was used in spiritual sacrifice. They are truly magificent animals close up, and were extensively groomed and made beautiful for the photos.

The road continued its desecent with a series of challenging hairpins - normally with a lot of trucks & busses preventing spirited progress.

Fruit & veg stalls started to appear - I had not seen any for the several days we were at high altitude.

Also the descent brought with it cloud & rain At one point the road just sort of disintegrated and I had to navigate across somethimg resembling a very wet lunar lanscape with trucks, cars and bikes weaving in all directions across where the road should be trying to avoid the biggest pot holes. No pictures of this I am afraid due to the concentration required, but here is one of the bike afterwards!

Time for a bike wash I think!