Road Research

[chinabiker]

... with the Forgotten valleys

I went out together with fellow MCMer Free Rider to explore a new road, or better path, which I spotted on Google Earth.

We had to go out 200 kms to reach the entry. As normal we left early at 6:00 a.m. to get there early and to have enough time to spend on the trail.

Our first stop was for coffee shortly before 07:00 at the Yellow Bridge Cafe. We continued to Sihai after the break to refuel since we knew that there are no gas stations along the way. Around 09:00 we stopped for breakfast near Baihepu reservoir.
We rode along the lake and reached the Beijing - Hebei border post shortly after. It took us 30 minutes (!!) to be cleared by police. We still don't know what they checked and why it took so long. Obviously two Laowei on two big bikes during the week are something very suspicious.

Shortly after 10:00 we reached the entrance to the trail, which I had marked on my GPS. We were welcomed by a very muddy river crossing and elected to cross a tiny bridge rather than crossing through the river - we would have if we had to.



Entrance to the exploration


The gravel road started to climb immediately and we stopped after 2 kms or so to take some pictures, enjoy the quiet and deflate our tires for better, safer and more comfortable riding.



Andy in a hairpin


First stop - deflating tires


On top of the first pass


We crossed over the first pass at 1100 m asl, went half way down the other side and stopped again for more pictures. It didn't take long before the first guy showed up with a horse, wondering about the 2 stupid foreigners coming to the middle of nowhere. Minutes later another guy with a herd of goat showed up.



At the next stop


Human no.1 with horse


Human no.2 with goats


Another mountain crossed and we had to go through a tiny creek (with still ice on it) before the trail climbed again. Having crossed pass no. 3, we reached the village no. 1. It is inhabitated but aside from a 3 wheeled tracktor, a horse and two dogs we didn't see a soul. After this 30 houses village we saw two people working in their field (obviosly inhabitants of village no. 1).



Creek still covered with ice


Village no. 1


Human no. 3 and 4 working in their field


The trail ahead


From there the track became more rocky and the valley very narrow, with me thinking that we wouldn't be able to fulfill our plan. There was a small meadow with some cows and a little shelter. Around the corner we stopped for lunch. Just before we left an old man appeared (human no. 5), couriously looking at us and our big bikes. We gave him some water and cigarettes before we moved on.



Cows and shelter


Our lunch place


Our friend - human no. 5


The surface meanwhile has changed from rocks to dirt and gravel again while the valley still was narrowing, but as the trail suddenly started to climb again I knew we are gonna make it.
On top of this pass, in the absolute middle of nowhere, a barrier appeared beside a small house - THE Hebei - Beijing border post. A young man, human no. 6, walked out the door, recording the plate numbers and our names, but since he couldn't write our alphabet, I took over and wrote our names in his notebook. The guy is living there with a bunch of young dogs - probably his food supply - left without electricity and probably seeing a maximum of three humans a day or less.



Hebei - Beijing border post


Andy with the border guard - human no.6


We went down again and eventually reached village no. 1.5, an abandoned one.



Village no. 1.5 - abandoned


On the trail in nowhere land


More nowhere land

Another one up and down again before we came to village no. 2, with some of the approximately 25 houses still used but no one around. We stopped for a break and some pictures when suddenly all villagers were around us - 4 people, which sent human count to 10.



Humans no. 7 and 8


Human no. 9 ...


... and no. 10


When we were about to leave village no. 2, we spotted Robert's bike leaking oil, which was no real surprise since he punched his K100 over the rocks like crazy. Let's get out of here as quick as possible was the decision, since there was no cell phone reception and still some kms and another pass to go.



Village no. 2 ...


... partly ruined ...


... partly inhabitated


One more pass


On the road


After almost 40 kms of incredible dirt road riding in stunning scenery, we reached civilization again - a parking lot.
Robert fixed the oil-leak with some two component glue, we re-inflated our tires to normal and moved on after 30 minutes - now on a perfectly paved road, which brought us back down to National road G110.


Some glue to fix the oil leak


During our last break we decided that we had a reasonable amount of corners that day and we should take the expressway back home. Uneventfully we reached home and had our well deserved beer over the unforgettable riding day.



The final pass down to the main road


We will ride this trail again for sure, most likely in combination with two nights camping.

Safe Riding