Despite Melbourne Mel having 8 falls (none captured on camera) Marysia chose the exact moment I'd turned on my gopro (showoff) to take a slow poetic role narrowly missing one of the pools of mud !
Finally out of the swamp we started what could only be described as an enduro climb on a steep narrow rocky rutted path up towards a mountain side view !
The treacherous nature of the path claimed a no.of victims, first Welsh Paula, then Jacquie (grazes) and finally Scottish Sarah who painfully embedded her handlebars into her ribs.
The most spectacular near miss though was Harro who riding in a high gear up a steep section lifted his front wheel like a bucking bronco narrowly avoiding a serious back flip !
By the timed we reached our lookout point after 5 kms of dirt and rocks we'd sweated a collective "lake" and were down to our last few drops of water !
The spectacular karst and river view taken in we hurtled down hill on a beaut concrete road to raid a local village shop of nearly it's entire stock of bottled water !
With a few undulating climbs and some scintillating downhills we finally arrived in Yangshou elated to have successfully ridden over 780 kms in some really trying conditions !
We rode as a group into the main part of Yangshou and barely had time to deposit our gear before heading out to lunch to farewell our hard working crew including head Chinese guide Bobby who were heading back to their home cities some hours away !
Showered and rested we dined to celebrate our success and new friendships while toasting our English guide Aidan who led us well during the trip achieving many milestones
Jacquie's first 100 kmer -
Viv's longest cycle tour -
Mels spectacular 8 dismounts -
Andrews first 3 dayer -
Marysia's incredible effort in the heat -
Harros barnstorming hill climbs -
Keep Wans first cycle tour and learning that undies and bike nicks don't mix -
And Henley's fantastic effort for an 85 year old (Arlene believed this to be Kevs age !)
With all the backslapping over Kev, Marysia and self take on operation R&R with 3 days of rest in Yangshou before flying back home !
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