Date: Tuesday 20th July 2010

Today was a driving day; we elected to take the longer but more mountainous road towards the large tourist city of Lijiang.

In Youlong where we purchased our tomatoes, cucumbers, bread rolls and cooked pork for lunch we saw hanging in a family home that salted pork.

It was long but beautiful drive following the river valleys up and down the mountain ranges.

Old wooden bridges used for generations crossed the rivers.

It was a 9 hour drive to Lijiang and we are now perked up in the old city car park for two days. (Cost Y20/day/vehicle, US$2.50)

Camp 48: Lijiang Old City Car Park Camp -2400 meters

Max Height Today- 2700 meters

Distance Today: 300 Kms

Total Distance: 8693 Kms

N26*52.225  E100* 13.865

Date: Wednesday 21st July 2010

Had a bit of a sleep in this morning and also found the public toilets in the car park are OK or by China standards – Excellent, so the day starts well.

Lyn spent the morning cleaning up on the inside whilst I serviced the vehicle on the outside. This morning we all conducted a number of tours of the campers and the EarthCruiser and the All Terrain Warrior and Bills homemade camper get the thumbs up. I think we get as much interest and photographs as the ancient city. Everyone is friendly and keen to hear of our travels.

Found and internet Cafe so sat and drank expensive coffee whilst I e-mailed back and forth to my son. Everything Google is blocked and thus our site, and access to it, so my cleaver son has a work around which seems to date effective...Thanks Brett.

Old women in native dress

Walked the old town extensively and although very touristy with thousands of mostly Chinese tourists and a smattering of foreigners it is still interesting.

China is really developing..they just have not got the English translations correct

Camp 48: Lijiang Old City Car Park Camp -2000 meters

N26* 52.225 E 100* 13.865

Distance Today: 0 Kms         

Total Distance: 8693 Kms

Thursday 22nd July 2010

The car park for the last two days including clean toilets cost the 4 vehicles Y60 (US$9). After our early morning market visit, Andy arrived with disposable oxygen bottles for our high altitude travels. From today we start to climb eventually we cross the high range in upper Tibet at 4,800 meters in a couple of weeks.

Unfortunately we also learn from Andy and his office that because of the bad weather that Tiger Leaping Gorge is closed due to mud slides across the road. As we were already driving near there we tried both access roads but were flagged down and had to concede that they were indeed closed.

Now climbing the mountains towards Zhongdian (or by its new tourist name Shangrila).

We constantly climb following first raging rivers, then the small streams, then  almost near vertical valleys.

The cloud band is entered at 2,800 meters, and we break through that at 3000 meters, eventually reaching a height of 3,500 meters. Rocks are constantly scattered across the road as they fall from above.

On the plateau above we catch our first glimpse of Tibetan people, yaks, and typical Tibetan timber houses.

We arrive and arrange to camp in the town central square at Y20/vehicle. It is a noisy environment but I am suffering from altitude sickness and have had enough for today and need to rest and acclimatise.

Others in the team are also suffering but only with headaches and decide to walk the town.

Camp 49: Shangrila City Square Car Park -3300 meters

N27* 49.067  E99* 42.195

Max Height Today: 3500 meters

Distance Today: 177 Kms     

Total Distance: 8870 Kms