Bangs

Anyang to Xingtai
November 8th
133km (601m vertical)

Colder day, down to 48F, but otherwise the same unremarkable cycling. Several weddings en route, with long processions of decorated black cars. They seem to celebrate with firecrackers too – setting them off on the ground and shooting them up into the air...from moving cars! In one town, they were launching big fireworks from the middle of the main street – sounded like cycling through a battlefield.

The internet cafe near the hotel was recovering from a power failure when I showed up. I saw a monitor explode: loud bang and then smoke pouring out from all sides as the poor shop owner played with the fusebox.

Graeme is still feeling sick. Apparently he hasn't had much to eat or drink in four days...and he's still cycling everyday. He's ridden EFI from Paris, so it would really suck to have to ride in the van now. Two longer days, two shorter days, and then we're done.

Joan and Nicole riding through town:

Fireworks in the middle of the main street: