And so it goes

I'm having a very bad day today.
While I was enjoying the beauty of this area, two motorcycle boys came up behind me and took my waist bag. I tried to fight them, but they cut through the strap and ran off. I didn't lose much, but I did lose my camera. And all the cool pictures I have of China. And my room-mate Jane, and ... I don't really care about anything else in the bag, most of it can be replaced with varying degrees of ease, but the camera is a major bummer. I think for the rest of the journey I will get those cheap disposable cameras. I don't really love them because of the pollution problem, but at least I won't be heartbroken if I lose it.
Sigh.
I am going to take the bus to Cenxi, because to be honest, I'm a bit tired of this province, and I want to see some of Yunan. I only have 5 more days in China, and then on to Vietnam. According to Lonely Planet, the kind of theft I experienced is more common there, so I will be more careful. I almost hate to post this, because it make China sound dangerous or bad. That is so not true. OK it isn't always safe, but then your own bathroom is fraught with dangers, like slipping and molds etc. And really, I haven't had much of a bad time, and for everything bad that happens, so much more good happens.
Till I post again, be safe, be happy, and have fun.

Can't think of a cool title at the moment

The next day, it had rained so the shoulder situation was much much worse. I peddled, thinking zen, peddle peddle, think zen. Then the road widened and life was good. I made it to Dangguang and I must say it was a lovely town. I wanted to stop but it was only 12:30 and I know I kinda have a deadline now. I did find a map however. And I only got lost a little bit, and that led me to the book shop with the map. It is a beautiful little city, clean, lots of parks, and a good atmosphere. Like I said, there really isn't much difference between cities, just that each one has its own personality. I liked this cities personality a lot. But I kept going.

I stopped at a little roadside stand a few miles away, and got dive bombed by bird poop. They got me twice. I swear it was like they had smart bomb bird poo. It didn't get my bag (bright yellow target that would have been) it got me. I decided it was a sign to move on.

I found a cheap little hotel, and the people were quite nice, but the bed was not comfortable and they had mosquitoes. So I didn't sleep very well. But at 7:00 am I was happy.
I was just outside of Guangzhou, and I thought I could get onto the next road by noon. Ha. I didn't even get lost!! It was just that Guangzhou is a huge city. Spread out huge. The road I was on led almost to the road I wanted to go to, but .... I kept going and going. I thought the city was pretty cool, and I did get a picture of a bike with baskets of chickens and ducks (I wanted one because it is so very China) and I did get a nice lunch of roast duck, but... The road kept going, through exurbs and suburbs and this nightmare of a train station. I kept peddling and thinking zen peddling and thinking zen. By 3:00 I wanted to cry. I turned off where the police said I should, and there was a sign before a very long bridge. No bikes, No pedestrians. Everyone was passing me on foot and on bike, ignoring the sign. I saw another police booth and asked the police man (thinking he was going to wave me away)- and he pointed over the bridge. I guess the sign wasn't valid anymore.

I crossed the bridge, next to the train tracks ( I even got to see two trains pass very close by) and got into a small town. (not quite on the road yet) I kept thinking- will this city never end?
It is a nice enough city, but....
This morning I woke up early, and decided that if the city didn't end by the end of the day, and I didn't get on the right road, I would quit and take a bus. But the road did show up finally and the city did kinda end. I felt pretty good. I got into Sanshui by noon. Sanshui was another really nice little city. Busy and clean and friendly. So many people smiled at me. I went into a little shop to buy something and the three boys running the shop insisted on giving me tea. They were watching a basketball game between the Boston and Huston. They were fans of Boston. (I think).
I didn't make it all the way to Zhouqing, but I'm in a very nice little town, with very nice people and some very good food. Tomorrow is another day. Peddle peddle, think zen, peddle peddle, think zen.
Till I post again, be good, be happy, and have fun.

Hey now

Apparently you must take a bus to get out of Hong Kong. And. I got lost getting out of Shenzhen (I don't think it is very funny, but go ahead and laugh if you must).
So.... I was hoping to get to Guangzhou today, but then when I got on the right road (finally) I realized that was going to be a joke. I average about 50 km a day. Some days I push it to 70 and a couple of days I made it to 80, but most of the time it is around 50-60. Guangzhou is 13o km from Shenzhen. And. I didn't get on the right road until 11:30. Once on the road I had a nice lunch. It was like the little bouzi you get in Suzhou, but with vegetables, and there was a lovely peanut sauce. Plus the roadside stand had my favorite ice tea. So I was cruising, despite some seriously messed up traffic. Apparently there are a lot of "local" buses that go between towns. They don't have one stop- they stop and pick people up all along the way. (this causes some "interesting" traffic situations) Then the shoulder disappeared. They are, I think, adding some lanes to the highway. So the shoulder is either not there or seriously not paved. I'm trying to be zen about the whole thing, and just put it as part of the adventure and another margarita story when I get home. If I don't make it to the border by March 3rd I'll take a bus. My visa is only for 2 weeks and it starts March 5th. The woman at the embassy in Hong Kong said that I couldn't go earlier, or enter later. Apparently they are a bit strict.
I still don't have a map.
But that is part of the adventure too.
Till I post again, be good, be happy and have fun.

Update

I got the visa to Vietnam. I will get the map to Hanoi. I will keep going.
Till I post again be good, be happy, and have fun

War

I'm at war with myself today. I go to the Vietnamese embassy to get my visa, but there is a part of me that really really wants to quit. To ask Uncle David to buy my ticket home. I did good didn't I? I went across China and that is cool. I am tired and I don't want to go back on my bike. Plus Hong Kong is VERY expensive. It has almost broken the bank. However, I also said that I would go all the way to Singapore, and that is what I should do, plus these are the set backs - the feeling like you want to quit, that you need to push through. And I know Vietnam and Laos and Malaysia are going to be beautiful. And plus if I were to fly out soon it would be better to go on to Guangzhou. If I go to Guangzhou I might as well keep going. I guess I will keep going.
By the way -- Hong Kong is worth it, it is a great city. I Love the engergy here, and the fact that I can get almost anything I want (I've re-supplied myself a bit, one of the reasons H.K. has been so expensive)
Till I post again, be good, be happy, and have fun.

Hong Kong is wonderful

In Hong Kong now. Yes it is dreadfully expensive and because of the new year holiday it was a major ordeal getting a hotel. But I'm safe have room for the next few days and a really cool guide. He didn't believe me when I told him I was one of the luckiest people in the world, and yes I do get lost in every major city, but all in all, I must have a ton of angels looking out for me. I meet at least one in every city.
Till I post again, be good, be happy and have fun.

Almost there

HongKong tomorrow. I hope the banks are open because I don't have any HK dollars. I kinda cheated a bit and took a bus for 50km and that is why I'll be in HK tomorrow instead of the day after tomorrow. I am at a hotel office (again) so I can't spend much time, but wanted to say that the small town was actually quiet. At about 10:30 the fireworks ended and then the young boys jumped on their motorcycles and scooters, in twos and threes, and roared off. The girls giggled and shouted after them and went home. There were a few odd firecrackers then it was quiet and I slept very well. I really like the small towns in China, they all have their own personalities. All the cities have the same things, a market, a grocery store, clothing stores, shops and all, but each one is special, each one is different. I guess it is all in the details.
Till I post again, be good, be happy and have fun.