I want to ride my (own) bicycle

A bike my size at last!

I have been able to ride my own bike in Yangshuo. It is much better than on a tandem because I can pedal fast and race my dad.

We have been on three rides from the Giggling Tree.

1. To Fuli

We had a long cycle to Fuli where they make fans. On the way we first went through a busy town and two tunnels. A man helped me push my bike across the road. Then we followed the Li river on a quiet road through some villages. We left our bikes and got a ferry across to Fuli. It was market day and very busy. Ellie got a bit sad because there were dogs being sold for food. We bought some honey buns which were warm and lovely. Ellie spoke Chinese numbers that Lily taught us to buy some. We had lunch back by the river and we threw stones in. We were surrounded by water buffalo. One went for a swim.

After we cycled back a different way past more villages and fields with lots more mountains. It was sunny.

2. To Dragon Bridge and rafting

On our second ride we went to Dragon bridge to get on a raft. We crossed the river after a little bit on the road. The path got muddy. It was bumpy and slippery. There were big puddles that I rode through. I got covered in mud. I stopped so suddenly that Mum fell off into a field. Ha ha! We rode through villages made of mud bricks and with chickens running around. There were lots of orange trees and we had to wait while they loaded a truck.

While we were rafting down the river, our bikes were taken to meet us and we cycled to Yangshuo for dumplings. I raced Dad all the way there and back. He said he has bigger wheels and better gears but I said I have more energy!

3. To Moon Hill

Yesterday we cycled to Moon Hill. Dad chose me a clean bike but I soon got muddy again. A cow chased me over a bridge and we said ‘Nicow’ instead of ‘nǐ hǎo’. We cycled through the karst mountains until we got to Moon Hill. We left our bikes and climbed 800 steps to the top. Moon Hill is a hill that the wind and rain and sea have crashed through the middle and left a hole like a half moon. We stood under the arch and watched a rock climber.

I have had a lot of fun riding around Yangshuo and people point and laugh with me whereever I go.