Beijing "season closure" overnight trip

Oops ... we did it again

Technical data

4 guys - 4 bikes: Robert (K100), Michael (JH600, Kurt (JH600), Andy (R1150GSA)
Away from home: 2 days - 1 night
Distance traveled: 558km
Minimum speed: 0 km/h
Maximum speed: undisclosed
Lowest point: 50m asl
Top of the trip: 1800m asl
Fuel consumed: 120l unleaded 93
The consumption of beer, schnapps and wine remains our secret!


The Beijing riding season is, at least for overnight camping trips, usually over after the Chinese national holidays (for some even long before).
Well, not for us, since we decided to go out once more this year to spend a night camping.

Destination: Yangtian, a village in the Northern part of Hebei, the third time this season selected as camp ground.

We left Beijing on Friday, November 24th around 7:00 in the morning under blue skies and accompanied by pretty strong wing from Northerly directions - chilly!

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A cup of hot coffee for Robert before we leave


We rode for an hour and a half before we made our first stop to re-fuel in Tanghekou, a small village along national road G111, approximately 100km North of Beijing.
Right after filling up the bikes, we found a pretty good place beside a small lake, well protected from the wind to fill our stomachs.

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Breakfast time ...

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... at a small lake


After the well deserved breakfast we continued North on a small road, where we enjoyed a nice ride without traffic, great scenery and witnessed some real harvest season village life.

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Village life during harvest season


A small pass on concrete surface rounded up this leg of the trip and all of us were pretty excited about the autumn beauty in the area.

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Pass on concrete road

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Another view - Kurt goes downhill

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Harvest traffic


Not long after, we climbed another pass on tarmac, before going down the other side on a dirt track. Great scenery again and, thanks to the wind, indefinite visibility.

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Another pass

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Great view


A 30 km concrete road trough a valley with probably the most beautiful scenery in this area, made us forget about dropping temperatures this early afternoon.
We now call it paradise valley and we will most likely return in spring with the rest of our families to spend some time there.

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More harvest traffic

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Paradise valley 1

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Paradise valley 2

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Paradise valley 3

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Paradise valley 4

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Paradise valley 5

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Paradise valley 6

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Paradise valley 7


We reached national road G112 where we turned West, across a 1800m pass, where road shoulders were covered with a bit of snow already.

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Traffic on G112

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Roadside snow

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A view back to the snow covered mountains

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My new friend from Dongwankou

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Kids of Dongwankou

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What the f....


We got to our favorite camp site near Yangtian around 5:00 in the afternoon after stocking some drinks for the evening. Camp was set up quickly and BBQ was ready just at nightfall.
After we filled our stomachs with some nice steaks, Gluehwein was prepared according to a German recipe - wow, what a tranquilizer.

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Campfire ready for BBQ

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Gluehwein getting ready


We were all wrapped in our sleeping bags by 10:00 and most of us had a good sleep. I woke up at 5:00 in the morning and found the temperature in the tent had fallen to -5 C. Believe it or not it was almost -10 C outside the tent. Slept on for another 2 hours before all four of us woke up at 7:00. Clear skies again and very calm, but as soon as the sun climbed across the mountains the strong wind started just as you would turn on a fan.
Breakfast and packing up wasn't really enjoyable - too cold.

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A chilly morning

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Nearby village

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More harvest traffic


We were ready to go with all engines running by 9:00, when Robert's clutch cable broke just as we were about to ride off - S...t
Since Robert carries almost everything with him (except a dishwasher and a microwave oven - ha ha), we were able to fix the cable with a bolt, 2 washers and a counter nut in just under 30 minutes.
With the now handicapped bike we decide not to go across the gravel pass (what a pity) but use the normal roads instead.

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Broken clutch cable


However, it was a real nice ride under blue skies. Uneventfully we reached Beijing, but not without the mandatory last stop at the Yellow Bridge Cafe".

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Kurt, Robert, Andy, Michael at the "Yellow Bridge Cafe"


Well, this was it for this season, although we are planning the one or the other day trips up here where the Winter is at the doorsteps.

We are looking forward to next year's bike season with hopefully some guests from this community.

A safe ride to everyone, rubber down, thumbs up!

Andy, Kurt, Michael and Robert

More Pictures

Most excellent trip report again guys! You guys are really riding the hell out of the area and I see the JH600's are still going strong! :thumbsup: Also looks like you guys got a mad camp fire going as well. Any encounters with the fuzz this time?

Also a side question, what do you think is the future for foreigners riding in China?

CC

Thanks for sharing another great trip chinabiker. :thumbsup:

Looks like it's getting a bit chilly up north. I take it for granted that we can pretty much ride year round down here in Guangdong. Got one extra bike in the garage, you guys can rotate trips if you need a riding fix. :riding:

Cheers!
ChinaV

Interesting report, scenery reminds me of our local scenery here in Shandong. Enjoy tour riding!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CrazyCarl

Most excellent trip report again guys! You guys are really riding the hell out of the area and I see the JH600's are still going strong! :thumbsup: Also looks like you guys got a mad camp fire going as well. Any encounters with the fuzz this time?

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The campfire wasn't as crazy as it seems.
The wild shot was a pure accident.The flash made all the objects being sharp, but exposure time was 15 secs. Impossible to repeat I guess.
Didn't realize it and moved the camera down after the flash fired.
See the EXIF data in the online album.


The real size of the campfire
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And, no visitors this time as it seems too cold for them going out to watch some mad guys camping :lol8:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CrazyCarl

... Also a side question, what do you think is the future for foreigners riding in China?

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Difficult to predict, I do hope a bright one though.

The country has a lot to offer on people, places, natural beauty and adventure opportunities, where a bike is one of the best means to experience them.



Andy

Thanks for the ride report.

Great to see the photos also.

Crazy Carl what do you see the future of foreigners riding in China.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ChinaV

Thanks for sharing another great trip chinabiker. :thumbsup:

Looks like it's getting a bit chilly up north. I take it for granted that we can pretty much ride year round down here in Guangdong. Got one extra bike in the garage, you guys can rotate trips if you need a riding fix. :riding:

Cheers!
ChinaV

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Hey, ChinaV

It's about time to share a ride or two. Swapping bikes - could be done.

Andy

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bigdamo

Crazy Carl what do you see the future of foreigners riding in China.

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To answer questions about China, I usually give the Magic 8 Ball a shake. Let see....

"Reply Hazy. Ask again later." Well there ya go! :icon10:

Off the top of my head, it seems the care-free days of riding without a license will soon be over. Although this will take at least a year before it comes into full effect, it's nonetheless a sign of things to come. Whether or not they will nationally standardize a process for 4ners to get licenses is largely unclear and may not happen in my life time...who knows.

If you already have a license and ride in China then the situation may be different and a lot of it may depend on what happen within the country in regards to internal affairs. Economic downturns can have all kinds of interesting side effects! :deal:

Maybe it will get better, maybe it will get worse. Perhaps it will get worse before getting better...who knows. Regardless, one thing is for sure, ride it while the riding is good!

CC