Off like a Musket Shot

Our three hour tour turned into a four hour journey through the Chinese countryside and many mountain tunnels.  I would not exactly call it a bullet train more of a well-directed musket ball hurtling down the tracks.  It was impressive at how smooth a ride it was and essentially nothing but silence from the tracks themselves.  The Avery horde was once again the center of attraction.  As we left the hotel and loaded the bus we garnered a few more looks.  As we got to the train station we collected a few more.  When the porters saw the amount of bags we were toting three came running with their carts at a full sprint smiling and talkative.  We settled on one porter and watched as he loaded the bags onto his cart.  We removed the bags from the second porter’s cart and started collecting our backpacks as the first porter finished loading his cart we removed the other bags from the second perter cart again…and again.  Our porter was very nice as everyone in China has been.  He went through security (for what it is worth) with us.  Michael was wearing a steel knee brace that went off in the metal detector.  This prompted a wand down and a move along gesture.  Nolan also set off the alarms, the same procedure was repeated and we all moved along as told. The Beijing train security detail as it seems did not want to be bothered by Americans traveling with so many bags. We departed Beijing on track nine leading the train out in first class; the equivalent of about $120 US per person.

The four hour train ride took us through some pretty countryside.  Miles would zip by with very little in the way of civilization to be seen.  Then out of nowhere and for no apparent reason a small town would come into view.  Homes that looked similar to rectangular concrete bunkers left above ground would lead to the larger part of town.  This would be followed by farmland then a larger city.  With only a few exceptions these small cities each had what appeared to be a nuclear power plant. With no exception did it appear that any were functional. It appears that China is preparing to convert from coal to nuclear power in these towns.  Every single town had at least one coal plant if not two and those plants belched smoke high into the sky. It is somewhat ironic that while we were in Beijing a city of 21 million, the weather was nice and the smog was non-existent; you we would have to travel to the countryside to see smog close to the levels shown on our news at home.

China does not embrace individuality.  I was struck by the similarity of each building.  It would seem that once they decide on a design there is no need to change.  Building after building is identical in size and shape.  When you get to the next town the design may have changed from the previous but the outcomes is identical buildings.

A bunch of American traveling approximately 1,000 KM away from Beijing gathered more attention.  A little girl became infatuated with us and her mom was very eager to practice her English.  The little girl who was wearing a shirt that said Ella of all things made frequent trips to see Sophie and the group.  Upon arrival in Hefei we bid goodbye to our new friends.  We will never see them again but they will not be forgotten.  The people in China have so very little that is their own but as Nolan has commented they seem genuinely happy.

We made it to the train station (Hefei) and were the last passengers off the train.  We found our guide and walked through a sea of people, all looking at us in a most peculiar way.  It was the first time everyone felt a little uneasy.  A 7 minute walk through locals, rough roads and chaotic traffic eventually got us to our bus. The ride through Hefei was a bumpy one at dusk and the smog has enveloped this city with no intention of release.  Every city and town in China has large skyscrapers.  In fact over half of the world’s building cranes are in China building these gray rectangular monoliths.  Hefei is no different. We are at a 30 story holiday inn on the 16^th floor.  When we look across the city the larger buildings disappear into the smog generated by, I am sure, nearby coal plants and the vehicles below.  Everything that can have a motor attached to it has one which makes the vehicles the locals travel in the more individual thing you see here. 

Tomorrow a year long journey hits another milestone.  We will get to see Chelsea for the first time.  Keep those fingers crossed and stay tuned for updates.

Porter #1 and Porter #2
 

 



First class on the bullet train.  I think I was expecting the Concord on rails.  Still it moved us from Beijing to Hefei, 621 miles away in 4 hours.  That is roughly 155 MPH or seattle to Frisco in 4 hours.  Not bad for the price.

Our Forever Friends from the Musket Train

Track #9 at the Beijing Station