Puer to Jinghong

Day 61 Wednesday 30th September 154 km (18837 km total)

 

Rex, rifles & rain

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The hotel we stayed in in Puer had animatronic dinosaur's outside - never did find out exactly why, but it would appear they were building some sort of themed area.

So with a muted roar from Rex & a growl from the tiger, its off into the chinese part of the golden triangle.

 

 

Pleasant country roads, good in the most part, just a few bits where you had to watch out,

 

The area was very lush & green and the roads tended to have a slight red dust/mud coating - all testement to the frequent rainfall. I could see clouds building up behind us.

Perfectly good local road, with a expressway along side, plunging arrogantly theough the jungle.

 

Mostly it was out of sight, so you could just ride & enjoy the relative isolation.

 

 

But then we hit a checkpoint, armed police at this one. I was in front and so was first in line for passport inspection and questions about where we were going, from, why, when etc

 

The chap with the gun seemed ok and was just about to let us go when his boss turned up and stopped us again. Same round of questions from him, but he couldnt decide & so got on the phone to his boss. This is how it goes in China!

We settled down for a long wait.

"What me taking photos? No sir, i left my helmet camera on the bike.... Oh, is that a remote control in my pocket?"

 

Then it started to rain heavily, & we sheltered in their tent waiting for the big boss & interpreter to arrive. - We finally got away after almost 2 hours & continued the ride to Jinghong in the rain.

 

Lincang to Puer

Day 60 Tuesday 29th September 312km (18683 km total)

 

More great Yunnan roads

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Heading south east towards Puer, there were more examples of the 'cottage industry' nature of the farming around here.

Then it was onto sweeping roads through the mountains.

 

 

 

With great views around each corner.

 

OK, so the roads were'nt all good, but the weather stayed fine so these sandy bits weren't too much of a problem as long as you kept your eyes open.

 

Water buffalo here & there showed we were firmly moving into SE Asia

The road climbed higher into the mountains ...

 

... Until we were treated to one of the best views for some time - truly lovely!

 

so worth a stop & a selfie!

 

... with the early reaches of the mekong far below us

 

 

 

Dali to Lincang

Day 59 Monday 28th September 302 km (18371 km total)

 

South west Yunnan, fine roads & scenery.

 

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Lincang lies sout of Dali and borders Burma. It is apparently capital of the Yunnan black tea region of china and sits pretty much on the tropic of cancer.

An uneventful but pleasant ride today through some fine scenery with the kind of roads that prompt spirited riding - we of course always stick to the speed limit!

Crossing the lake just after leaving Dali, quite a contrast to the old city.

And onto the start of the fine roads that characterise the Yunnan region.

With a few tunnels for good measure, this one is 3.1 km long.

Passing an army convoy - about 80 trucks in all.

 

Another lake, no jumping off the bridge allowed here!

The farmers here had been making patterns in the crop - still no mechanisation in sight.

Hand sheathed corn....

Great roads here

 

A tunnel in a bend is a bit weird, leaning over for the curve & then being plunged into darkness!

 

Look at this road go!

 

... And so it went on until we reached Lincang. Not much to see in Lincang, but the promise of more good scenery on the way to Puer tomorrow.

 

 

Out of China !

Hi readers!

I am now in Laos, currently sitting on the banks of the Mekong having breakfast.

 

Its the first time for 25 days that I have been able to acesss my blog, facebook, google, messenger, etc etc directly due to the restrictions in China. I can see things have got a bit sloppy and I have some catching up to do - normal service will be resumed as soon as possible. :-)