We met Yulong for the first time...



Our band of happy bikers

on an overcast Sunday morning. A bunch of students and friends from school organized a barbeque along the banks of the Yulong River. We were told the landscape along the bike paths were truly amazing and that there would be time to go for a swim in the afternoon. It's been drizzling the past few days which we were assured was typical fall weather, so it was a puzzle to me how they were planning to keep a fire long enough to cook for 20 people. That wasn't even the biggest problem for me. It's this: I don't bike. It's not something I'm proud of, but it was just something I never got around to learning. I wasn't let off the hook however. Apparently, tandem bikes are a common thing in Yangshuo sooooo...problem solved! Ooops! I have to say that I have never been on a pedal bike, except the stationary one so I wasn't looking forward to the experience of bumping along the countryside. No sooner had we set out for the Yulong then it started to drizzle. But, happy campers that we were, we trudged along quite unaffected by a little rainfall.

 



a view of the karst



 

Yulong definitely delivered. It was amazing! I'm sure it could have been better had the weather been clear but the low lying clouds covering the peaks of the karst gave it an air of mystique. To me, it was all part of its charm. To add a bit of whimsy, it seemed to me like a shy child who was meeting someone for the first time, not quite sure if it wants to come out and play or not. I have to say that I was very glad that I went despite the aches and pains of being on a bike for a couple of hours for the first time. (Okay, fine! Honesty compels me to say that although it felt like a couple of hours, it was actually less than one.)

 

 

 

We couldn't stay by the banks though since the threat of heavier rainfall made cooking anything impossible. Yong, our leader, and therefore the one to blame for the aforementioned aches and pains, had us bike a little further...and then some more...then a little bit more until we reached a cave with a wide opening. Inside, there was a long table made with a heavy slab of rock that made me think of 'The Last Supper' with immovable seats made with similar slabs. Off the left side of the entrance was a low-lying barbeque pit that looks like it's been used on many occassions. It was all very civilized. lol! In short order, the bikes were parked to one side and we started laying the table, putting the meat on skewers and generally made ourselves useful while the guys started the fire. It was big fun because the students were as curious about us as we were of them. 

 



shy Yulong not quite sure if she wants to play

The afternoon passed by in a whirl of activity. We went back to a different part of the river bank to have a swim but the water was too much on the cold side for me so I passed. Before we knew it, it was dark and we had to head back to town. We went back via a different route and I couldn't believe it at first when they started lighting and distributing candles for the hike back. I was so sure it was all a practical joke and that they'd whip out torches and flashlights any time soon. Shows you how much I know! lol! We hiked through ricefields and across rivers holding candles. That's something I have definitely never done before. It's a wonder we were able to keep them lit long enough with the light drizzle and all. Thank goodness it wasn't too long a hike, just around an hour or so before we got to the paved road. From there we mounted our bikes and headed back home. The memory of those lighted candles still crack me up when I remember. That will always accompany my best memory of the shy Yulong.