Hohhot to Chengdu

**futianshenzhen** · 11-26-2012, 09:03 AM

So, myself and Joe rode from Hohhot to Chengdu via Qinghai lake in the end of September and the October holiday. We covered 4500 kilometres and reached 4500 metres in altitude. This trip follows on from my solo ‘’Chongqing to Hohhot’’ ride which I did in August, this however is going to be a two person RR so buckle up!

**Mfpthebronze** · 11-26-2012, 09:14 AM

As Tom said. this is a two man write-up, so I'll start by posting a map of our route. The trip around Qinghai lake was omitted at the time these maps were made, and google maps is mysteriously not working well (Because it always works well here

) so I can't edit the files to accurately represent the route.

We also mad 3 separate maps so that they could be easily and quickly loaded on the phones. Also helped us to gauge our progress. A "new map" day was something to be celebrated!

All maps are at the same zoom level

Map 1.JPG

Map 2.JPG

Map 3.JPG

**futianshenzhen** · 11-26-2012, 09:14 AM

24th

Arrived in Hohhot at about 1 pm. Picked up my bike from the Suzuki shop where it had developed an oil leak due to failure of the gear shift shaft seal (try saying that one quickly!) and lost both front sprocket bolts and plate. We then picked up Joe's bike, which had kindly been left out in the rain. They also tried to rip him off for 150 quai but he thwarted them by applying logic and reason and ended up paying fuck all.

Got to golden hans at 6 and made gluttons of ourselves!

CIMG0691.jpg
The replacement seal

CIMG0693.jpg
Picking up Joe's bike

CIMG0697.jpg
Leaving the susuki shop

CIMG0703.jpg
Golden Hans has excellent beer made in their micro bremer

CIMG0704.jpg
At GH

**futianshenzhen** · 11-26-2012, 09:23 AM

CIMG0706.jpg
Meat anyone?

CIMG0707.jpg
The mosque in Hohhot

CIMG0708.jpg
A fake great wall under construction - future tourist trap

CIMG0721.jpg
A typical road in Inner Mongolia - pretty but dull riding

**futianshenzhen** · 11-26-2012, 09:30 AM

25th

Set off at 8.20, wet roads but no rain. Mostly cruised at 110/120 on dull straight tarmac. The weather got fairly warm after a brunch of spicy DIY wraps. Went through one major shower early evening then arrived in Orad Houqi at 6.30, 590 kms today. Found a room above a restaurant for 80 with a very nice waitress. We aim to be in Ningxia tomorrow.

CIMG0728.jpg
We stopped for Joe to put on his Gopro and saw this. We never found out if it was meant to look like a giant dick...

CIMG0745.jpg
Lots of camels but none on the menu

**futianshenzhen** · 11-26-2012, 09:35 AM

Panorama.jpg
North West of Hohhot

**Mfpthebronze** · 11-26-2012, 09:35 AM

Bundled up, it was cold
IMG_0005 (Large).jpg

We skirted this beautiful range of mountains near the end of this first day on the road. Eventually got caught in a small shower*
IMG_0044 (Large).jpg

... but made for a good picture
IMG_0034 (Large).jpg

*Tom said it was a big shower so I am now changing my mind and agreeing. It was HEAVY

**futianshenzhen** · 11-26-2012, 10:02 AM

26th

Left at 9 after topping up with oil, fluid and air. Made good progress until about one when I ripped off the bottom of my rear shock linkage in a pothole. It was still held on by the tiniest piece of steel so we limped back to a half deserted hamlet and had lunch. Luckily the chef could weld and did a fine job repairing the break. Unfortunately 30 kms down the road it snapped off completely. We turned the bike into a hardtail by fixing spanners either side of the axel up to the rack, and made it the 30 kms to Wuli Jisumu. There we found a truck garage with a huge welder (we think penetration was the issue with the previous weld) who did a great belt and braces type job. I hope it holds because tomorrow we cross the Gobi and I don't want to break down there. We ended up getting rooms for 50 quai at the truck stop, and again the welder doubled as the chef! He has 3 dead sheep in the kitchen so dinner should be awesome.

We got police checked twice today, once at each of the welding shops.

300 kms today, 890 total.

CIMG0747.jpg
Hearty northern food

CIMG0751.jpg
The smashed rear shock bracket

CIMG0763.jpg
The first weld job

CIMG0764.jpg
Welder/chef #1

CIMG0767.jpg
Weld #2

**Mfpthebronze** · 11-26-2012, 10:15 AM

Went up this road early in the day and were treated to this beautiful view
IMG_0061 (Large).jpg

Tom's bike got seriously lazy about half way through the day and had to lie down. The good old QingQi was strong enough for the both of them

IMG_0071 (Large).jpg

Oh...I think something might be broken
IMG_0079 (Large).jpg