Well its just too cold up in the mointains, so I took the shortest route to Chengdu. Arrived yesterday (the 25th).

5/1/2011 Day off in Tongren, Shopping, Shave

6/1/2011 Tongren visit monistory

7/1/2011 62 km, 4:01

Down valley, went 10 km past turnoff, down spectacular valley, and 10 km back. Camp with towering cliffs around.

8/1 26 km, 3:36

15km of climbing, camped on grass next to river (frozen)

9/1 4km

Snow over night, and very cold in morning. Stopped at house, by Sunam who was visiting his family and was a tour guide in Tibet. Mutton stew with fat and butter is good for the cold.

10/1 45km

Snow again over night, but warmer and no head wind. Riding in open grass land with snow around, good riding.

Down valley into Labrang.

11/1 Day visiting Monistory.

12/1 67km

An hour teaching english in the morning. Then to Henzou, which has a replica of one of Milerpa’s towers. Henzou was a big town, back into China.

13/1 88km 5:24

Luqu, Need China ID to access Internet.

14/1 89km 5:40

20 km of Climbing to start. Stopped in Monistory town, many western tea hoses and hostels closed. Tail wind most of the day, cold spectacular passes.

15/1 67km 4:15

Through tunnel onto flat Zoige plan. Camp on hill side. Given Tsampa for baby photos (how do I send them)

16/1 20km

Asked for ID by police in internet bar. Smelly hotel.

17/1 Snow overnight, meet Dorjee and speak some english in afternoon.

18/1 67km

Excellent days riding, snow around, blue skies and sunshine. Dropped bike and broke mirror. Saw pilgrims prostrating themselves along road, sliding on the snow covered road.

19/1 87km

Easy flat riding to HongYuan. Dog got hold of rear panier and had to kick it off.

20/1 66km 4:19

Cold day with some sunshine. River camp, setup camp on snow.

21/1 71km

6km to pass then easy down hill. Stopped at checkpoint and talked my way to a store room as accomodation.

22/1 67km

4km climb then 4km tunnel at least this one had the lights on.
Resort town Xuecheng.

23/1 53km

Heavy fall on ice, very sore leg.

24/1 83km

Cycing day from hell. Head wind, trucks, major works on road from earth quake in 2008, and tunnels from hell. One 2.3 km long with just two lanes, no lighting and trucks doing 60-80 km/h

Found resterant/hotel over night. Dayu peope area.

25/1 119 km

Good start on alternate road and up over pass. Once out of the mountains flat 60km to Chengdu. Arrived about dark and managed to navigate to hostel.