July 2010

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This picture is taken where the Great Wall branches off from the inner loop in Western Hebei.

This little fellow joined me under the umbrella waiting for the rain to stop.

Big fat spider. I try not to think where the spider was when I get cobwebs over my face.

This happy bunch was curious about the white man that spent the night in their little village of 500 inhabitants.

I told these ladies at the bus station in Zhangjiakou what I was doing, and they were all smiles every time I met them!

With so many bicycles around, you never need go far to find somewhere to get a puncture fixed.

This man was pressing and drying coal 'bricks' to a standard size.

Here the Great Wall ends at the bottom of a steep cliff.

See the nosy visitor??

Milestone as I reached the watchtower where Beijing Municipality starts and the outer loop of the Great Wall in Western Hebei returns.

See the steep bit where the wall is missing? Those are the hard bits to climb up.

This centipede tasted liquorice with a hint of lemon 😉

Here the Great Wall is about 4 metres high, and two feet wide at the top. It's best to walk on top to get the view and wind, but every time it was damaged I had to climb carefully down.

I didn't notice till later that I was bleeding after a fall.

Farmers reading a 'business card' I bring along while walking the Great Wall.

I love looking in to these Chinese courtyards.

Accepting defeat after trying to get through dense forest in very steep terrain to get to the Great Wall. I was soaking wet.

This farmer started working in his field before I got up in the morning. There was a small patch without plants big enough to pitch the tent.

I have seen several watchtowers covered by mobile phone antennas.

Waiting it out under a road with a local farmer during a thunderstorms.

This young boy spoke very good English, and struck up a conversation.

Danger of flash floods and landslides I interpret this as.

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