A hidden valley – but for how long?
It’s not often I feel sad to leave a place when riding my bike. Usually I’m super excited to get cracking but last week I left a beautiful tea horse road node village and felt, well, sad.
Lady in mystery valley
I intend to go back in 5 weeks and will write more about it then. I was lucky enough to meet the local Bai & Yi people of the area and even had a local Bai woman sing for me. In turn, she asked if I could sing something English for her – how embarrassing – Oasis it certainly wasn’t – sorry Gallaghers!
Leaving Dali and its rice paddy fields felt great. The rice fields soon changed to tobacco and buckwheat as I made my way north west.
Leaving Dali
The ride from Dali to Lijiang was sweet, albeit raining for most of the first day. The tent got it’s first airing since the Burmese border and those MSG laiden noodles tasted so good!
Camping in the Yi country
The climb to Lijiang was a taste of what’s to come. Steep switch backs open up breathtaking views of the mountains.
Climbing to Lijiang
I share some fruit I bought with a shepherd, neither of us have a clue what the other is talking about but when I mention England’s disallowed goal he looks like he understands, devastated!
England lost?
Next stop Lijiang!
Glad to have run into you and the other guys in Yunnan — enjoying the photos and the adventure! Will definitely consider one of the compact Ricoh cameras next trip…seems like a much better idea that lugging all the SLR gear around. Cheers!
Andy
Hi Andy! Thanks for posting – just been reading through yours and Evan’s site too – great work, top photos mate! Would you believe you guys are the only other cyclists I’ve bumped into on the road? Guessing the fall off the cliff wasn’t too bad – you’ll see Andy T on the phone to you in the you tube clip :o)
Take care man! Dave
Hi Dave we are keeping a close eye on what you are doing.you are having a wonderful experience, and you certainly know how to write an interesting article. You make us feel as though we are there with you. Keep going Dave, take care of youself. love mum