Wuhan Heading West

We got on the road early from Wuhu this morning, by-passing Wuhan
about 1.00pm. As of 2.00pm we'd travelled about 500km. We plan to try
and cover about the same again today since the road is divided 4 lane
motorway with little traffic.

I spotted several peasants plowing their rice fields with water
buffalo, and a small furry yellow chicken crossing the motorway in the
middle of nowhere!

We've crossed the Yangtse several times on huge new bridges.
Everywhere you look there are major construction projects underway;
bridges, railway lines and new roads- all on a grand scale.

The countryside is of course highly developed but there are also
plenty of trees in the landscape.

I drove for 2 hours this morning. The trucks are highly unpredictable
since their loads are always wider than their mirrors, they can't see
vehicles behind them. No one follows any sort of what might be
considered predictable behavior on the road - so defensive driving is
the order of the day. We cruise at 120kph, which is the speed limit -
using about 16 litres per hundred kilometers. The 4.7l v8 ticks over
at 2000 rpm at that speed.

Today has turned out to be surprisingly hot at 30 degrees. We had both
thought that the temperature might have been about half that.

It's now nearly 4.00pm and we are nearly atYichang.

Wuhu, Easter Saturday

Spent the night slumming it at the Crown Plaza. Paddy wasn't happy
with the first 5 star hotel we were booked into so we changed. Wuhu is
about 350km from Shanghai. We arrived about 9.30pm and after a nice
hotel dinner of Nasi Goring got to bed about 10.30.

It's now about 6.15am Saturday and we plan to depart for Wuhan at
7.00am, a distance of about 600km.

Wuhu is a city of about 2.5m. It's been occupied since about 700bce,
and has been an important city on the Yangtse for several hundred
years.

The Catholics have left their mark too since I spotted an impressive
cathedral on the way in last evening.

The car is running well despite all the gear on the roof. We have a
battery powered fridge/freezer full of steak and French cheese for
eating when we get to the camping part of the trip.

Sent from my iPhone

On the Road

Just a brief update. Have left Shanghai at 4.30pm Good Friday heading
to Wuhan, staying at Wuhu tonight. Great 3 lane autobahn with few cars
on it. Finally on the way!

Sent from my iPhone

Update from Shanghai

Well it's now Friday and we are just about ready to leave. Not everyone as ready as self with checklists. The last 3 days have been spent getting the vehicle ready, putting in a spare battery, wiring spotlights etc.
Today we are packing up food, getting all the camping gear sorted and deciding where it will all go in the Toyota 4wd.
Brother Patrick has been introducing me to friends at the local expats bar, Oscars. We visited there last time Liz and I were in China. Strange barman who wouldn't open brandy to serve unless you bought the
whole bottle.......so a beer it was!
A customer of Paddy's also took us out to dinner last night where we dined on champagne and lobster, and sharks fin soup.
Paddy has a great apartment in the central city, 3 bedrooms at about 140 square meters.
The weather is ok, cool and overcast. I'll fill in some more details later
Sent from my iPhone
John

Shanghai 20th April

Well I've arrived to beautiful spring weather with daytime temperatures of around 20 degrees. The sky is of course a little blurry from the haze, but that's Shanghai for you.

The authorities have decided we can't visit Tibet. It's the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Tibet by the Chinese, and the locals aren't feeling that liberated. So, no foreigners allowed in till later in the year.

The trip is now planned to be via Chengdu and north west over the Tibetian plateau toward Golmud, then on to Urumqi.
The team here is in the last stage of readying the 4wd. In some cases in the first stages of getting ready. I had prepared an equipment list which no one seems to have looked at.
I met Stephan Mangaud yesterday, the young Frenchman who is coming with us. We zoomed around town on his scooter without helmets doing various chores. Quite different from the helmeted and organized regime back home.

Brother Paddy has a lovely apartment in central Shanghai. 3 double bedrooms with 2 bathrooms and ensuite. Large balcony with great views over the local area, no highrises around him. The apartment comes furnished, and being Patrick he has a live in maid. Paddy had the new spotlights and bull bars attached to the Toyota yesterday and is having the off road tyres fitted today. There is still a bit of cooking gear to get, and some food, but we are planning a Friday departure for Chengdu.
David Pay and Stephan will fly up and join us in Chengdu. I don't think Stephan is coming the whole way, as he has to be back here 5 May and Paddy wants to be back on the 11th.

So, not sure what I'll do from the 11th to 21st, I may drive the vehicle back myself with a translator friend! Time will tell- and it is supposed to be an adventure anyway.

John

Fwd: Ready to go

All packed and ready to go. One more sleep and a day at work. Hope
to be able to send emails along the way. See you late May.

Expedition in China 2011

Well the planning is finally over and I depart Tuesday 19 April for 4
weeks in China. My brother Patrick and I are going on a 4wd trip out via
Chengdu, Golmud to Urumqi.
There are 4 of us going, with a mix of camping and cheap hotels.
Next report from Shanghai.