REST DAY 1/11. Zhangjiakou

Not much of a blog today.....just to indicate the nature of such Rest Days on a trip like this.

Nice to have a Rest Day. This one has come after just 2 days cycling. For the rest of the trip, they’ll come only after 5 or 6 day sections.

In spite of yesterday's active day, I still can't get a 7 or 8 hour sleep. After that 16 hour sleep-binge in Beijing, I’ve reverted now to just 1 or 2 hour sleeps. Now, I don't feel fatigued in the morning, I feel completely recovered and relaxed but looking at the ceiling (in the dark!) can stretch an hour out to feel like two. Can anyone make a (meaningful, sensible) suggestion on how to rectify this situation?

After a breakfast (much like yesterday's) I gave the bike a good clean - some short dirt road sections left their mark. But all mechanical parts are still in good shape. Long may that last. It's at rest here in my room just now. I did take it out to go on various errands and to see some of the locality.

Smoking has been banned in China’s hotels etc since June 2015. In each room in the Beijing Holiday Inn was a letter from the manager apologising for such inconvenience. In both other hotels so far there is a distinct smell of smoke along the corridors and rooms. Each room is supplied with matches and ash tray. Yesterday I observed people lighting up in a restaurant and hotel lobby. The directive doesn't seem to be taken too seriously. Wouldn't like to revert to such practices at home.

It's a Rest Day, but like a dedicated teacher’s rest day, it's all about catching up (correcting) and preparing for the next stage (term)....up early, bike to be cleaned, laundry attended to, luggage re-arranged (camping gear in daily bag from now on), shopping for necessities etc, etc. That doesn't take all day but must be attended to. Got the washing done (a small one) and within an hour outside all was dry.

For a while I cycled around this city of a million to view it's attractions and daily life. Nice development down by the Tongqiao river. Some massive new decorative buildings, riverside walks and accommodation blocks in construction.

Cycling about was a relaxed activity although seems chaotic at first glance. Everyone accommodating everyone else and no one attempting silly heroics.

Trying to locate any particular store is a slow task. No point in asking (very very few have any English), looking at shop signs doesn't help either, merchandise isn't always visible from a distance. I was in quest of a camera shop to procure a small gorilla tripod. I failed. The few I met with some English couldn't suggest any outlet. One of these came over to me admiring my bike (I thought) but rather intrigued by the ’Beijing to Istanbul’ identifier on my rack. He was actually an engineer (from Beijing) involved in a large construction project here. We chatted for a while and introduced himself as Jack. “Not an expected Chinese name” I remarked. He gave me his full Chinese name (took a while!) and I told him I’d settle for Jack. I’ve found that anytime I enquirer from a person with no English and start to revert to signs, someone with some English will come over to help.

Saw some of those small electric scooters on sale today ranging from 1000 to 2000 yuan (i.e 150 to 300 Euro) and mopeds from 3000 yuan. I don't know how that stands against income here but sounds inexpensive.

In spite of the 26 deg heat outside (and still in the cool season) the 2002 Winter Olympics will be hosted by here and Yanqing. Near here will take place the cross country skiing, the ski jump, the biathlon and the snowboarding. Incredible for a place with almost negligible snowfall, but apparently all that is required is a supply of water to generate the artificial equivalent.

Fishermen were out on the bridge angling in the almost stagnant water between the weirs. One, I saw catch a little thing about 3 inches long and straight into a bucket with it. Definitely not for dinner.

So, all ready now for the next 6 day stage that will bring us into Mongolia and camping. Bring it on!!!