19-Jul-2015 -- This is the 10th out of 17 reports of confluence visits while cycling from Kashgar (喀什) to Xī'ān (西安). I cycled through the Chinese provinces of Xīnjiāng, Qīnghǎi, Gānsù, and Shǎnxī, 3600 km in 25 days. The story starts from 39°N 76°E. The previous report is 37°N 99°E.
In the morning, we started cycling from Chákǎ (茶卡), which is 170 km to the north-west. After having cycled 60 km, I split up with my three English cycling companions who were heading further east to Xīníng. I didn’t want to ride through the densely populated areas of Xīníng and Lánzhōu, so I decided to continue my ride through the highlands in the south. I hadn’t planned to visit this confluence but winds helped me to get an average speed of 35 km/h. When I reached the village Tánggémù (瑭格木镇) to have dinner, I realized that the visit of this confluence was still feasible tonight. After a big bowl of noodles, I kept on cycling as fast as possible (this time even with the wind blowing unfavourably) in order to reach the confluence before it would get dark.
At a distance of 2.3 km to the confluence point, I left the road and followed a little track for another 800 m. At a distance of 1.5 km, I hid my bike behind a little wall and ran cross country over the grassland. Due to the late evening hour, all the yaks and sheep including the shepherds and dogs were already home and the grassland was empty. This made the run very easy and uneventful.
The confluence is located on slightly hilly grassland without any special features nearby.
After the visit, I ran back to my bike the same way I had come and continued cycling for another 20 km to Hékǎ (河卡) where I spent the night. I reached the town in darkness and just before a thunderstorm came up. The next morning I saw these yurts that can be rented as an alternative to a hotel.
CP Visit Details:
- Distance to the road: 2.3 km
- Distance to a track: 1500 m
- Walking distance: 1500 m
- Distance of bicycle parking: 1500 m
- Time to reach the CP from the track: 10 min
- Time at the CP: 8:00 PM
- Measured height: 3266 m
- Minimal distance according to GPS: 0 m
- Position accuracy: 3 m
- Topography: slightly hilly
- Vegetation: grass, grass, grass
- Weather: coming thunderstorm, 14° C (felt temperature)
- Given Name: The Grass Grass Grass Confluence
The story continues at 35°N 101°E.