Ride Report: China, "The Middle Kingdom Ride"

[ryanjpyle]

DAY 55 - The MKRIDE team safely arrived in Kunming today. We started our morning way behind as we decided that we needed to make a tire change. Our TKC 80 tires just were not providing the traction and control we need for the tarmac and wet conditions we are facing in Yunnan province so we put back on our street tires and made our way to Kunming. Our journey was marked by freezing rain, high winds and frozen hands, yes my hand warmers have been on the fritz for the last 3000km. It took almost 30 minutes of a seriously hot shower to bring my body temperature back up to "human levels".

[ryanjpyle]

DAY 56 - The MKRIDE team safely arrived in Guiyang today. After putting on all our wet clothes from the day before we rode out in to the rain again and again encountered rain and high winds. The road from Guiyang to Kunming is perhaps one of the most lovely in all of China, sadly we didn't see much as low lying fog and rain kept us focused on potholes and puddles most of the journey. Might the rain ever end?

[ryanjpyle]

DAY 57 - The MKRIDE team safely arrived in Rongjiang today. Yes we put on all our wet clothes again and rode in the rain all day again. The only upside was that instead of it being 8C it was 20C, which completely changes everything. The warm rain was a welcomed change but we just aren't able to cover the kind of distances we want in the heavy rain. We are being slowed down significantly on this last leg of the trip. The good news is we found the "Hyatt Fashion Hotel" in Rongjiang, Guizhou province to sleep at, US$20 for a double room. Not too shabby for a fake Hyatt :)

[ryanjpyle]

DAY 58 - The MKRIDE team safely arrived today in Guilin, and IT DID NOT RAIN!!!!!!! Amazing bit of luck today with the weather and Colin and I were finally able to ride freely without slipping off the road. I almost forgot what that felt like. The journey from Rongjiang was decent as the roads were consistent and the traffic was light.

[ryanjpyle]

DAY 59 - The MKRIDE team safely did absolutely nothing today. That's right, we enjoyed a rest day in the Guilin / Yangshou area and took a boat cruise down the Li River and enjoyed the famous Karst Mountain landscape. It was great to enjoy a rest day as the last week has been a tough one with all the heavy rain. We are now about to embark on our journey across Guangdong province and then begin our journey up China's eastern coastline. A special thanks goes out to ChinaV, a motorcycle rider based in Dongguan who has helped us with our route across a very sticky Guangdong province. The adventure continues!

[ryanjpyle]

DAY 60 - The MKRIDE team safely arrived in Shaoguan, Guandong province today. Day 60 actually marks the day we thought we would make it home by, but because of some issues we had in Tibet we are still on the road. Good news is that we haven't been rained on in a while and spirits are high. We had some great twisty roads today and we can't wait to continue our exploration of northern Guangdong province.

[ryanjpyle]

DAY 61 - The MKRIDE team safely arrived in Xiamen, Fujian province today. We had a monster 864km on the bikes today. The big day was an effort to make up some lost ground and try to be on time for a factory visit we have lined up towards the end of the week. The roads were good, the sun was out and we really made a move through southeastern China. We are finally beginning to realize how close we are to Shanghai. Amazing!

[ryanjpyle]

DAY 62 - The MKRIDE team safely arrived in Fuzhou, Fujian province today. The journey from southern Fujian province to northern Fujian province led us through some amazing mountainous roads and allowed us to explore one of China's most visually stunning provinces. We also got to watch a bus burst in to flames, educational day. Glad I am not traveling by public transport.

[ryanjpyle]

DAY 63 - The MKRIDE team safely arrived in Wenzhou, Zhejiang today. Lovely roads along coastal China, but funny enough none of the roads are actually on the cost, they are all hidden a fair distance inland; not sure why.

[ryanjpyle]

DAY 64 - The MKRIDE team safely arrived in Putoshan, Zhejiang. We made it to this remote island off the cost of Shanghai in the late evening and had a lovely day of riding. We are within striking distance of Shanghai!