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**saralou** · #**2806** 28 Nov 2017

The second pass is much more gradual and the turns long and shallow. The valleys in between and very green with lots of crops and colourful villages.

deqen 2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tibet_-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tibet_-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tibet_-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tibet_-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tibet_-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tibet_-14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tibet_-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tibet_-15 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2807** 28 Nov 2017

There were only 4 major check points today. The first was as we left town and this was quick. The second 100 km later and there was a store right there so we could get a snack while we waited for the guides. At the next one another 100 km later we had a bit of a longer wait for the guides (here the police were so nice they even came out and gave us each bottle of water and wanted selfies with us). Then we stopped for lunch here in the town and had pretty good dumplings.

Tibet_-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tibet_-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We left the 318 here and turned south on the 214. 70 km later there is the last checkpoint at the “Tibet border". There are no formalities for exit unlike the hassle of an hour to get in.

FILE3170 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tibet_-16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2808** 28 Nov 2017

Just after this we had to register with the Yunnan Police as we entered their Provence and this took 20 min.

FILE3181 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Now we have 100 km to go at 3pm. The last pass was again more gradual.

Tibet_-72 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tibet_-75 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We were stopped for construction for 25 min also so the good time we had been making was being eaten up. There was an excavator up on the cliff dumping piles of rocks down onto the roadway and then a front loader would come and scoop them up and drop them off the roadside.

**saralou** · #**2809** 28 Nov 2017

The last pass ends with a view of the Baima Snow Mountains, which are sacred in Tibetan culture.

Tibet_-20 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tibet_-22 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tibet_-21 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_0310 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2810** 28 Nov 2017

We arrived to the hotel at 630 just as the clouds were moving from the summit and the sun was setting. We are again at 3600 m.

Tibet_-23 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tibet_-24 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We were up at 0630 to see the view and there were no clouds at all, but not enough light for photos. By sun rise there was a lot of cloud cover. It was still amazing.

Tibet_-28 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tibet_-29 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We set out at 8 again on the curvy mountain roads and over one pass over 4200m. The gas station is just 10 km down the road and we pulled up to the pump and gassed up!!!

FILE3195 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2811** 28 Nov 2017

Summary of the route in Tibet!

Screen Shot 2017-10-12 at 18.25.46 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2812** 29 Nov 2017

The skies were threatening for our 160 km ride in search of Shangra-La, but it did not start raining until the last 30 km. We ran into a group of 10 Thai bikers at the gas station about half way.

FILE3222 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tibet_-30 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tibet_-31 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

There was one Police check and they just wanted to see the passports and let us go. We were a bit worried about the bike in the van and so we pulled over up the road to make sure they got thru. This gave us a good opportunity to put on the rain gear as we would soon need it. The hotel we are booked in is near to the Old Town, but we took a cab 2 km away to a place Mr. Tang found online for a really good lunch. We had meaty pork ribs, cucumber in vinegar and wasabi sauce, Pineapple glutinous rice, and several other dishes.

IMG_0331 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2813** 29 Nov 2017

We cabbed it back across town to the hotel (2$) and borrowed some umbrellas form the front desk.

In the end we did not need them as the rain held off for a few hours. This was long enough to wander in the old town and visit the Lamastery with the massive prayer wheel.

IMG_0336 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_0335 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tibet_-37 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tibet_-38 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tibet_-39 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tibet_-32 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2814** 29 Nov 2017

It was pouring again at 6pm and we cabbed it to the Yak hot pot place we had seen earlier in the day. Here you each get a bowl of broth and a burner and they put all kinds of delicious meats, veg, and noodles on the table. While you wait for your pot to boil you go to the “sauce” bar and concoct your own dipping sauce from the herbs, spices, chilies, and other condiments. This meal takes a while, but you can enjoy it slowly.

Tibet_-36 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_0337 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_0339 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_0340 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tibet_-41 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2815** 29 Nov 2017

Today we are riding 176 km to Lijiang, but we will make a detour about 75 km from the city to see the Tiger Leaping Gorge on the Yangtze River. It had poured most of the night, but it had held off since 6 am. When we set out it was drizzling intermittently.

Screen Shot 2017-11-29 at 10.03.32 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE3252 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We continue one the 214, but it is almost all down hill today.

FILE3266 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Screen Shot 2017-11-29 at 10.03.46 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE3269 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2816** 29 Nov 2017

When we reached the gorge and the several hundred steps down to the raging river it was barely sprinkling, but when we had already reached the lunch spot 30 km later when it had stated to pour again. Only Trevor and Sara were up for the long hike down and the even longer one up!

Leaping Tiger by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Leaping Tiger-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Leaping Tiger-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Leaping Tiger-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Leaping Tiger-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://youtu.be/p16n5MSnNvU

**saralou** · #**2817** 29 Nov 2017

The last 35 km are over the mountain on the old road to avoid the toll road (where we are not allowed technically). On the first uphill curve Trevor had just passed the van and was going around the corner when his front wheel slipped out on the wet road and he slid wheels first into the concrete barrier. He was not hurt and only his left pannier was a bit banged up….agh. Arriving to the city we were staying in the old town this is a pedestrian only zone, but we have permission to bring the bikes into the hotel. The van had to be parked off site and the luggage was brought by porter. We are just bagged and Dan’s back is really bad today.

China Lijiang_ by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

China Lijiang_-30 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We rested in the hotel and then cabbed it across town for a real Sichuan dinner. Mr. Tang is from Sichuan Provence and since we will not be going there we though we should at least try the food. There is a huge wok in the centre of the table and they heat up the oil and then slowly add the ingredients you order (chicken, peanuts, potatoes, and vegetables).

IMG_0363 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_0364 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_0365 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_0367 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_0368 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://youtu.be/XAwUUscksFg

**saralou** · #**2818** 29 Nov 2017

We have a free day today to wander around the 800 year old Lijiang old town. The roads and streams all lead towards the Black Dragon Lake. There are lots of tourist shops, but the town itself is very nice. The forecast rain did not appear. There was a laundry across the main road near the hotel and all our clothes are clean (wow expensive).

China Lijiang_-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

China Lijiang_-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

China Lijiang_-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

China Lijiang_-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

China Lijiang_-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

China Lijiang_-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

China Lijiang_-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

China Lijiang_-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

China Lijiang_-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

China Lijiang_-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

China Lijiang_-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

China Lijiang_-14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr