Yesanpo

We got up early to have breakfast and hit the road for Yesanpo at 7:15.  It was suppose to be an hour drive but we wanted to get there early.  We started driving.  We watched a car run into the side of a cart.  Continued driving and we found ourselves on very curvy, mountain roads.  It was like the switch backs in Colorado but worse. 

The cart sloshed out some kind of funky liquid out the back.

The blue is what we had just finished.  As I took the picture
we hit a curve and bump.  That is why the picture isn't
the best.

And it begins.

The start of the road construction nightmare.

We got to a spot where workers were working on the road.  There was a drop off that the guy told Mr. Xue to drop 2 tires into to get around.  Mr. Xue got out to check out the situation.  Back in the van he dropped the two tires on the passenger side.  I thought Mom and Dad were going to have a heart attack.  We made it through with no problem.  We stopped in one pretty spot to take a picture.  Cameron decided he had to go to the bathroom so he went behind a brick shed looking thing.  Todd decided he needed to go too.  Luckily a car came around the corner and honked.  We continued on our way.  Mom kept saying "Oh that mountain is pretty. That one is beautiful." This went on the entire time in the mountains. The scenery was pretty but it all began to look the same.

A pretty spot.

What are you doing Cameron?

Me and my favorite.

Dad, a car is coming.  Honk, Honk.

The honking made Cameron crack up.

We came to a spot where there was a road block.  Mr. Xue said it would be 20 minutes.  We had to wait for the cars coming at us to get through then it would be our turn.  All out of the van. Had some snacks while we waited.  A bus behind us started so everyone jumped back in their cars. We think he did it to trick everyone because we didn't go anywhere for another 10 minutes. Finally on our way. More tore up road.  We were driving next to back hoes, dump trucks, excavators, etc.  Mostly one lane, dirt, bumpy road where two cars were trying to fit while workers were working.  It was a disaster.  These roads were like riding down the roads of the old west (not that I know about that but my mom kept saying it).  Poor Mom and Cameron were in the clear back of the van getting bounced around the most. 

Part of what we saw.

Big houses.

The temporary bridge since the other bridge washed away.

We were literally on top of construction vehicles.

More curvy roads.

Waiting to go.

Such a stud.

He got hot so he changed into shorts.

Wearing Grandpa's hat backwards.

Finally found Yesanpo but meiyou...nothing. Xue asked people...meiyou.  What do you mean "NO".  There has to be something.  It said so on the Internet.  We all know that doesn't lie.
Busted out my phone to look it up again.  I read off everything that was suppose to be there.  However, as we looked around it looked like a ghost town.  We found a brown sign with attractions. They were what we were looking for. Problem was it was another 10km on rough road. Xue sent Todd a text telling him all roads were washed out from flooding in august. Think of the roughest road you have been on then at least double it. Oh my goodness it was adventurous.  We couldn't help but laugh.  Hindsight we should have turned around but after getting all the way there we wanted to find something.  Mom says she was telling Dad we should have turned around but she never told us that.
A one hour drive was now a 4.5 hour drive.

Welcome to Yesanpo.

 Finally arrived at the Gorge.  We hit a very nice bathroom then walked up to the gate.  This area looks like it could be nice. 90 rmb for each to get in to go see nothing. We were not paying that. Todd told the girl we would pay 100 for all of us but she wouldn't budge.  Some money would be better than none because no one else is going to stop by.  Oh well.  We stopped by a stand where a lady was selling walnuts. Todd got some for Mr. Xue. We watched Mr. Xue crush a walnut open with his hand.  Wow!  He's the man.

Happy to see we were not the only losers to go to Yesanpo.

Cameron kissing this animal thing.

Twins.

This is the entrance to the Gorge.

It looks like it's pretty.

Thumbs down and "S" for sucks.

Back to the van. Since entering Yesanpo we had a guy on a moped leading us around. The entire town was mostly destroyed and the roads were all rough. We were determined to do something in this town.  We stopped so Todd could buy us a donkey ride. The cart we wanted to go on we couldn't find the girl. Moped man, or mayor or president of tourism as we called him, phoned someone else. His donkey came running pulling him in the cart.  Mom, Cameron, and I went for a ride. We made two laps around a parking lot. The man tried to let Cameron drive but he didn't want to. He didn't want to tap him with the whip thing.

This is the donkey we wanted to take us on a ride.

Loaded up and ready.

And we are off.

Smiles all around.

Grandpa likes to take pictures of dung.

After our ride the moped man led us down a different tore out road. He stopped at some horses and asked if we wanted to ride them. No thanks. He continued down the road to a river. He stopped again to show us some boats. Mr. Xue got out and the guy explained what we could do. Mt. Xue came back to the van and told us. Cameron and I decided we would do it. As Todd was asking about prices Me. Xue said 3 and in the counting counted himself. He obviously wanted to do it. As it turned out Me. Xue drove and Cameron helped. I was just along for the ride. It was a bamboo boat and they used long bamboo sticks to push the boat around. Me. Xue was pretty happy.

Pretty sure this is what it looked like and what they hope
to get back to.

Poor town.

Grandma feeding Cameron.  Oh geez.

Our boat ride.

My drivers are doing a fine job.

Yep, more dung.  Oh Dad.

Terrible mess.

Then other parts look beautiful.

Back in the van and we made our way down the very bumpy road towards Beijing. We had 4 different times we were completely stopped for at least 20 minutes. It was nuts. Every time we thought we were home free...we weren't. Finally on open road.

Hmmm, what are these two up to?

Stopped so this guy could go by.

We made it to Shidu which is a nice little spot to stop. We stopped at the gas station first to go to the bathroom. Mr. Xue tried to get gas but they wouldn't take the company gas card he has. We walked across the street to a park. They had a cable car, bungee jumping, haunted house, and several other things. We rode the cable car to the top. Nice view. They had another cable car that went clear across the gorge but we didn't do that one. We looked around awhile then rode back to the bottom.

Waiting to get on.

Mom and Dad's turn.

Cameron thought this sign was funny.

Going up.

The bungee jumping platforms.

The view.

This waterfall was cool.

Yikes.

Cameron, did you fall asleep?

On our way back down.

Todd riding alone.

We walked over to the long suspension bridge. Bought a ticket and Mom, Cameron, and I walked across. On the other side was a temple and waterfall. We climbed to the top and then back down just in time. We made it back across the bridge and the doors were shut behind us. It was closing time.

We are about to walk across this long bridge.

King of the World.

At the temple.

Grandma didn't walk to the top.

Todd and my Dad clear on the other side.

Waterfall and funky lady.

Headed out.

Back in the van headed towards Beijing. We stopped to try and buy pumpkins on the side of the road but no luck. Second stand we had success. 3 for Ileana and 1 for me. Lady was not willing to bargain either but I didn't care. At the stand we could have bought pumpkins, live chickens, fruit, a little bit of everything. Weird. I just wanted to buy them and get headed back to Beijing.

Real pumpkins.

Mr. Xue took a different route. It was a regular road not the curvy, I'll make you sick road. We were cruising along making great time when all of a sudden we were in a traffic jam. Tons of trucks and it took forever again. By now we were all tired of being in the car and traffic. But, what could we do?
Finally driving at a normal pace. Never thought I would be excited to be in Beijing traffic. We saw some light up kites flying in the sky which were pretty cool

Trucks and cars everywhere.

After almost 13 hours of fun we were back at the hotel. Went to the room and ordered 3 pizzas from room service. We ate and watched problem child 2. Todd wasn't feeling so well.  We think it was because he took his pills for ear infection and didn't eat. Off to bed.