Kunming to Beijing - catching a 5.30am flight out of China, Sep-14th

[corporal_clegg]

About the navigation maybe this helps. What I did after trying to get offline maps on my phone and failing was to just take pictures with my phone off google maps from the internet in hotels. Big picks for the easy turning points and zoomed in ones for the bigger towns I would be staying in. This along with my phones gps worked fine. Did get lost a bit here and there but not too bad. I also had a complete driving map book of China which didnt help me in the least. Tried to use it once or twice but gave up because I couldnt find roads in it.

Good luck anyways man

[andre555]

keep it comming slabo! two more weeks till Beijing!

[slabo]

sorry folks .. only made it up to Ma Er Kang, Sichuan. That's about 2000km. Passed I don't know how many ~4700m mountain passes, did some tough roads, slept under a sky of stars near a temple, battled trucks and tractors, and busted my shoulder last night.

Long story short, battery died, put a new one, not charging and at 10pm last night while trying to get out of this whoring town to find a camping spot, the lights died and I slipped into a ditch, bounced onto my left shoulder and elbow. Had full armor on, so nothing broken just a strained tendon somewhere near my shoulder blade. No swelling and I have movement, but it hurts.

But to fix the bike again, lost too many days and probably will get more trouble but I don't have time, 2500km to go and I'm not sure I can rely on the bike to perform. I have to ride to Chengdu now. Was niec while it lasted, but ...

[slabo]

After another chat with the local mechanic in Barkam, seems alternator busted. He quoted me 160rmb to replace the alternator and put the engine back together. That would be the second time this engine is opened, in 14,000km! Worthless piece of junk that can cruise at 70km/h in perfect conditions. Well I don't want to fix anything on it. I was hoping this would be my last ride and I could find good mechanics in BJ to put a new engine in...

For now, it's running fine with the kickstart, but no lights, and no horn! I hope there won't be any dark tunnels on the way to Chengdu. I can't make it in time to Beijing, so I'll have to leave it in Chengdu. Shoulder hurts but still no swelling, so nothing broken I hope.

[euphonius]

Hang in there Slabo. Sounds like a "character building" ride! Did the mechanic give you some idea of how far you could ride with the bike in this condition? If the alternator/stator is really toast, it won't be sending power to your ignition system.

With a bung shoulder and a bung bike, you should at least be keeping your eyes peeled for a truck heading to Chengdu. No shame in throwing in the towel. I can think of many, many worse outcomes. At least your ride finished in some of the world's highest mountains. Mine ended (almost exactly a year ago), as I followed a friend and his girlfriend on their Shineray on an ill-fated ride across urban Kunming, in the dark and in the rain, to dine at a mushroom restaurant!

Keep snapping pix and relish the moment. Once you are back in Beirut, surrounded by people with endless stories about snipers and car bombings, you'll be the exotic one with astonishing tales about your abortive ride to Beijing over the shoulder of the Himalayas!

Chin up, Naim.

[Lao Jia Hou]

Naim - really sorry to hear of your misfortune. I was looking forward to storing your bike in Beijing (cleared a nice spot for you). BTW, the courier called and your stuff is on the way to my place - should be here soon. So, no worries there.

I agree with Euphonius - find a truck to get to Chengdu. I think your bike might be running on its very last electrical legs. And you definitely aren't in proper riding condition, buddy. Take our advice - get a truck.

The good news is you will soon be back in Beirut/Mechref - truly a magical & beautiful place. I'm envious.

[slabo]

Just rolled into to Chengdu last night at 7. Bike is parked safely underground, and not the main catalyst of a bonfire as some of you suggested. Thanks everyone for your support, especially phone and coffee meeting' support. I couldn't have made it so far without you.

[euphonius]

Congratulations on getting into Chengdu safely, Slabo. It was a fantastic adventure any way you slice it. Now you've got 10 days to catch your flight. You heading back to Kunming or straight to Beijing?

Oh, and will you have a bike in Lebanon? Would hate to see your growing skills go all fallow.

cheers!

[slabo]

Congratulations on getting into Chengdu safely, Slabo. It was a fantastic adventure any way you slice it. Now you've got 10 days to catch your flight. You heading back to Kunming or straight to Beijing?

Oh, and will you have a bike in Lebanon? Would hate to see your growing skills go all fallow.

cheers!

I don't know where I'm going yet, have to meet some people in Chengdu first.

As for the question that's burning me most... I think it will be da mafan to get a bike bike home. Register and then customizing the bike only to use for a less than a year, not the best way to spend money, or time, instead of what I should be doing down there..
A motorcycle is one of those things that's never really ready to use out of the box. And then there's all the accessories and gear.. da mafan to carry all that shit back home. .. jeeze im only gone for 9months .. 9 months without a bike

[euphonius]

Well you just never know what you might find. Just any bike for getting around would be better than none.

Alas, I just checked craigslist.org for beirut and there's not a single bike listed!!