goosmurf: We flew to Lijiang aiport then got a taxi to the bus station.
goosmurf: Our bus ticket to Qiaotou, closest spot to the start of the Tiger Leaping Gorge trail. Fortunately the bus ticket seller spoke English :)
goosmurf: Sort of lunch - POWERS EASY FOR LIFE chicken flavoured something
goosmurf: We made it! The bus dropped us off at Qiaotou and with a bit of luck we found ourselves on the right track, leaving our bags at Jane's Tibetan Guesthouse along the way for the princely sum of 5 yuan!
goosmurf: So begins our dusty journey...
goosmurf: Some early views
goosmurf: Still on the right track
goosmurf: Afternoon sun
goosmurf: Lots of construction from the way we came
goosmurf: So. Much. Dust.
goosmurf: The first 40 minutes or so is unpaved road winding through small villages
goosmurf: Poot poot poot poot poot
goosmurf: Bit early for that, barely 30 minutes into the trail!
goosmurf: 9 hours to Walnut Garden Family Guest House. As it is almost 5pm we are fortunate that we are only going to Naxi Guest House 2 hours away :)
goosmurf: Needs moar signs!!
goosmurf: Guess we're going this way
goosmurf: Legit sign is legit
goosmurf: We've climbed a fair way
goosmurf: Unfortunately the clouds made the gorge not so blue...
goosmurf: Climbing a series of switchbacks. Most guides tell you about the 28 switchbacks that we would tackle tomorrow. No one seems to mention these first 20. Quite a shock to the system.
goosmurf: Jimmie on the lookout. One of the things that is pleasantly lacking from the TLG trail is hawkers! The only people we came across were local goat herders and a couple of other hikers.
goosmurf: "Shit are we going up there?!"
goosmurf: Note the dust on Jimmie's lower legs. Moments earlier: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS7kzbHE5aA
goosmurf: Mourning the loss of a goat?
goosmurf: Lost in translation
goosmurf: We came across a Japanese girl who took this photo for us. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the background
goosmurf: The Jade Dragon Snow Mountains were rather shy that day. We were grateful that it didn't rain though.
goosmurf: View amongst the trees. Somewhere around here we also saw this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf786QERbYI
goosmurf: Our first glimpse of the Naxi Family Guest House (coloured flags centre of frame)
goosmurf: Nice spot for a village