Wallace's Wonderful Adventure: Saturday In Beijing

Up early. Mom changed sheets, did laundry, and was almost ready by the time I got up at 6:30. We were headed to Beijing. Todd had a doctor appointment with a specialist for his ear at 1:00 so we decided we would all go and spend the night since Todd has to fly out Sunday and my parents had to be at the hotel in order to fly out early Monday. Better than going back and forth.

Everyone in the van and got on the interstate. As we got close to the toll booth lots of cars were coming towards us...the toll booth was closed. It was a very foggy/smoggy morning. They close the road when it's like that. Mr. Xue took the "slow route" as Todd called it.

He has taken this way 2 other times but it was a first for the rest of us. For a few minutes we all felt like we were back on the roads in Yesanpo. Crazy bumpy. Luckily it hit highway again. Mr. Xue was cruising along. He was on a mission to get us to Beijing. At one point he passed on the left, going into the oncoming traffics lane with a truck coming at us. We then hit a big dip in the road. It was likes Dukes of Hazards. Definitely different things to see on this route. It definitely took longer. Lots of times we were stopped because of traffic lights and tons of traffic.

Ton of traffic.

Grandma and Cameron played slap hands.

After being in the car for 2 hours we realized we were by the Florencia Village mall we were at yesterday that took less than an hour to get to. We tried to get back on real interstate but it was still closed. Ugh!

Cameron needed to go to the bathroom. Luckily when he said it two blocks later there was a gas station with a bathroom. We all decided to go since we had no clue when we would get to Beijing.

Back on the road. After 3 hours we were waiting in traffic lines barely moving again. Worst car trip ever to Beijing. 3 hours 20 minutes into the trip we had to stop in a police check point. They checked our drivers license and papers, opened up the back of the van, and then let us go. 2 minutes later we had to drive through another routine Police check point. Luckily we didn't get stopped.

Finally on the main interstate in Beijing. We saw a pretty bad wreck between 2 trucks. There was an actual fire truck on the scene. This was not the cause of the interstate being closed.

I decided to give the AARP IPad a try. First 2 games I lost. The 3rd game I won. That game is no match for me.

On top of everything else...we got lost. Todd's appointment was at 1:00 and we pulled in the hospital parking lot at 12:53. Almost 5 hours in the car. What a cruddy ride. Not to mention that one of our goals about living in China was destroyed. We wanted to make it through without ever stepping foot into a hospital. At least it is just to see a doctor whose office happens to be in the hospital.

We went to Chaoyang Park to Go Ape. Cameron and I did the rope climbing/zip line course. It was fun. But, when we were zip lining both times I crashed with my booty into the pile of sand that stops you. I had a booty full of sand. Good times.

Gear is on just waiting our turn.

Walking to get started.

Our training session.

Seriously, did I agree to this?

Cameron is a pro.

Together on a platform.

Cameron zip lining.

He loves this kind of stuff.

These were by far the hardest. The little pegs flip when
you step on them.

This was my second booty crash.

Cameron thought it was hilarious.

Todd met us at the park. He told me the doctor found a moth in his ear. I was freaking out. He finally said he was lying. He showed us pictures on his phone that the doctor took. The first one was a picture of his good ear. Clean and clear. The second was of his bad ear. Holy moly was it disgusting. It was full of gross looking stuff and you could see where it was red and bleeding a little. GROSS. The doctor used a vacuum to suck some goop out then took another picture. You could see a big difference already. She sucked some more and sent him on his way. He has ear drops he has to use. Hopefully this is going to do the trick. He can already hear out of it so that's a huge bonus already.

This guy had a sports bra on.

In the van and off to the hotel. We checked in and hung out for an hour. Dad couldn't believe how long the room was. Actually they call them apartments...3 bedroom, 3 bathrooms. Definitely a step up from the Super 8 and Best Westerns my parents stay in.

Hanging out in the kitchen.

Cameron playing Jenga Blast.

Grandma got in on the action.

Dad didn't last long holding Cameron like this.

At 4:00 we were back in the van going to drive go carts. We all drive the first round. Dad had the same claustrophobic feel when he put on the helmet because it is a full face one. Dad could barely see out of it. Our turn. Mom hit the tires going out of the pits then hit tires again a few turns later. We were cruising around having fun until the last lap. I was behind my Dad who was behind Todd. We came around a corner and my Dad crashed hard. I almost died right then. He did like a whip lash motion then sat still. I stopped and then I saw him loosening his helmet. At least I knew he was moving. I had to continue around. That last lap seemed like it took forever. I felt sick with tears in my eyes. I was the last one in the pit and they were all already out of their cars. I immediately asked Dad if he was ok. He said yes but then said "man, I hit hard." My mom said "what?" She didn't know it happened. I started saying how it scared the heck out if me and then my mom was all sick thinking about it. Luckily he was fine.

Watch out NASCAR.

All eyes are on you.

Heads are too big for the helmets.

Todd and Cameron rode again. Dad and I had a beer to calm our nerves. As we were sitting watching the guys Cameron came around a corner right in front of us and another guy completely slammed into the side of him. We could tell Cameron was hurt. He immediately grabbed his leg. The guy that hit him stopped and was making sure Cameron was ok. They both started going again. Two laps later they were in. I met Cameron at the door and he said he was fine he just hit his knee on the bar. The guy that hit him came right over, without even taking his helmet off, and apologized repeatedly and made sure Cameron was fine. That was nice. He felt really bad. There wasn't time for him to react to miss Cameron.

Back in the van where my heart rate finally got back to normal. Dad and Cameron were both fine too. Back to the hotel. We finished our championship game of Euchre. Girls won. We ordered from Annie's and had it delivered for dinner.

We ate. Good food. We then played Go Fish, UNO, and the new Jenga Blast. We had a great last night with my parents. Off to bed.