Just a short note to inform you that I completed the 206.5 KM route from Beijing to Chengde yesterday in 7 hours 18 minutes.
There was a torrential thunderstorm as I approached the town of Huairou at the 40 KM mark but this was a mixed blessing as it cooled down temperatures to 22c.
From Miyun onwards the heat grew - mainly 33-35 c according to my onbike speedo.
I passed the psychologically important halfway point (100 KM) at Gubeikou in 3 hours 42 minutes and the hills began in earnest. I had my mini Mount Ventoux experience and faced a monster hill that wound its way upwards for about 10 KM.
The route levelled out slightly after this and I had a good 10-15 KM freewheeling through a gulley and spectacular mountain scenery with my support car trailing me to offer encouragement as we approached 160 KM.
The final 45 KM brought me along the river valley to the outskirts of Chengde and then a final slog up to the heart of the city and ancient Imperial Palace grounds.
After the challenges of the preceding 160 KM I was glad to have a relatively easy, uneventful final push for the finish!
Cycling time: 7 hours 18 minutes.
So, if you would like to support a very worthy cause please give generously to the Guangji Kindergarten at www.sichuan-quake-relief.org. Please follow the payment links on the top of the main page.
A full video diary and accompanying pictures should be online at SQR in the next day or so.
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