17.4.2007 - 7.5.2007 *
Shanghai - Jingdezhen
Total: 2527 km = 160 h 35 min

* being spoiled 7 days Shanghai and 3 days in Suzhou

“Our greatest battles are with own mind.” - James Frank

After a day of taking rest and being spoiled in Shanghai I have to say goodbye to the couch and living room. I had to “take my bike” into the elevator and hit the road again. For last time I smiled and waved goodbye to the old ladies in front of the building. Next minut I was on the road.

One again I was playing the lottery with the road -;”eenee meenee mieny moe” which one is going to take me out of Shanghai and back to Suzhou.
One more time I had to do some extra miles, of course. Meanwhile I stooped at the bike service. The did not like my bike. It was too strange of a bike to even touch it. So I tried my luck in the next garage, and next one, until at the stop no 3- they helped me. And then towards Suzhou. The road was full of traffic again and I only reached the big tower watch lat in the evening. Once again my hosts were Slovenes -Anzej and Ursa. First evening, we ended up with pampering ourselves with a massage. That did some good to my legs. Reality of being on the bike is, my upper body is nice and relaxed all the time, but my legs are working all the time.

I was a guest in their house unitl Sunday, then I was back to reality. Back to my way - the road, that is becoming my home. First part of the way towards Wuxi, I was joined by Matjaz and Anzej. Two Slovenes. It was nice for a change. They had no luggage, so they were faster too. We visit another Slovene there, Igor.

By Monday I was back solo - me, my bike, my way…first time towards Yellow mountains - Huangshan.

It is one of biggest attraction for foreigns as much as for local tourists. And so I choose wrong week to visit it. (Chinese people are having three weeks free per year.And around May First is one of them..) I had rainy day a day before and also at the time being in Huangshan Shi - city.
It was a bad way to start the day/ my understanding of Chinese was better then my patient (I do not follow the world possible by Chinese anymore.) So my mind exploded.. So instead of taking a day or two off for being a tourist I took the bike and went into the night..to find my peace, my freedom and my space. Now, looking back it is all in the past, but at that very moment if someone would give me a ticket and took care of my bike,I would run away and said good bye to China. For the foreigns living here, it is just one of those moment not understanding Chine/people/ (not)understanding how different you are. And yep that is China too. That feeling never leaves you alone for long. But after each stor, the sun will shine….there are new places to be seen, and new people to meet..

There are days of riding through nice little hills and amazing green green nature. Forest and fields everywhere. And by the evening the best musicians is frog with there orchestra. It is simply beautiful/ simple and beautiful.

Another interesting thing that came accross, all this famous tourist things are not so attractive to me at all. But on the other hand, simple everyday life/ childs face/ people I meet, still do impress me. Either seeing this cyclying on the bike, or sharing table with Chinese for breakfast Sitting down in the park or walking through the market. Life is making life interesting. And we people are just part of it.

And if you are still asking me why I cycle…….. Last year three young people came from London to Beijing by bike. They put together a short video. Enjoy it…..…understand me??