D6: was a rest day, organizing my bags and gear, cleaning the bike, and meeting the guide/driver. I enjoy my 4+2, but it’s been me doing the driving and having the flexibility to do my own planning. This is quite different, a regimented itinerary, permits, and a guide with you. It’s also not the cheapest or most sustainable way of traveling, but it’s the only way I get to see Tibet, and I’ve wanted to visit for some time. Deqen has nothing to report, a town of people coming in and out to see Meili Mountain, which this time I did not really bother to check out.
D7: S:4 R: 0 to 5 H:3.
Packed the car and set off. I took the back little route and the driver the main G214. A lovely little climb on back road and then nice long descent along the Mekong. Blown uphill with the Upper Mekong tailwind :). A 15km construction section, and then entered Tibet. That was straightforward enough and took 2 minutes. Mr. Niu (the guide/driver) took us down to an interesting salt mining town on the river. Worth the visit and then a few km later I arrived at the massive new hot spring vineyard, which was a bit of luxury for the remainder of the day. Shame I cannot really drink the wine due to the cycling, a bad mix, especially at altitude.
