Darran's Diary (London to Beijing): Crazy drivers 19th June

It rained with a thunder storm all night but stopped an hour before we were leaving so no rain gear to wear as it is already warming up. Traffic was building up getting out of town to the usual high standard of driving “Ahem”
Another mountain to get over, but with the advantage of going through it rather than over it, in a 3 mile long tunnel. The benefits of going east!

When you came out the other side it was raining and this really brought the Chinese drivers to the highest standard of stupidity
Not many pictures today as too busy trying to stay alive with lorries over taking lorries on blind bends, cars over taking lorries on blind bends well in fact everything overtaking on blind bends in the rain on a greasy surface going downhill on Knobblies.
Finally ending at Yaan at 1000m altitude for a break and it is covered with smog which is part of the course for all Chinese cities

Everybody is in really good spirits and some people decide to play silly behind your back especially when Adam the cameraman is filming you. That is Kevin the leader of the trip

I took the opportunity to check out the local buses and this could be a new model for the uk. It is a double deck but hardly taller than a single deck

I can hear you all now saying that the Chinese are short, but an extra foot in height in the cabin would remedy that situation.
OK work bit done!
The last 25 miles we are all in convoy with the 4x4 leading the way to the hotel as the route is awkward through the city with more smog and even more crazy driving
We finally arrive and jubilation all round for finishing Tibet, so beers for everyone

It then turns out that th general manger wants a bike in the foyet for some pictures so Robert and Simon ride them in and then lots of photos. Everyone wants to then sit on them and have their photos taken. Of course, we were very selective on who could do this as standards need to be kept up for the group.