Jiayuguan – Near Yumen 117km

I felt really refreshed after my ‘rest’ day in Jiayuguan and I was almost at pains to leave the comfort of the Bestay Inn and the what surely has to be the world’s most comfortable bed.

I’d set my sights on Yumen and all was going to plan from the mornings ride as I set a nice pace back out into the desert. It wasn’t until the afternoon that the wind picked up and I started to fight what is beginning to feel like a rather familiar battle.

No......the scenery doesn't change much

There really isn’t much to say about the scenery out here. It’s dry, dusty, rocky and above all else windy! By the time I’d finished riding for the day I’d covered about 117km, the final 30 at a painstakingly slow speed. The expressway sign still indicated that there was another 21km to Yumen so I figured I could add at least another 10 on that.

I’ve yet to sleep under the culverts of the expressway but tonight I was left with no choice. I’ve read about other people who’ve rolled out their sleeping bags in these less than luxurious surroundings but like them I have to concur it was pretty comfy. I cooked up some pasta and sat resting my back up against the wall watching the sun go down.

A good day all in all but a painfully slow afternoon riding into the wind, I think this is going to be the pattern to come.