Today was only a 93km tour according to komoot (the bike route planner) and I reduced it to 80km, because I avoided a detour.
Sometimes, you cannot get the direct way and it is not clear why not. It was the G324 and in general, “G-roads” are open for bikes. I tried to find out where the problem is and komoot allowed the bike for 7km but not for all 9km.
If I selected a point nearer to the end of the detour, he refused to plan it. And I could use the walking option.
Then, the whole part of the G324 that komoot wanted to avoid, was allowed. It was unclear, why I should use the same street later, but not here.
I had a little bad feeling to go left when Mr.G told me to go right, because I could not exclude that there would be a good reason not to use this road after a few kilometres. And Mr.G protested all the way and only 1-2km after his and my route had united again, he was silent.
The only other noteworthy event on today’s way, was a parade or maybe 3 parades in Puning. There was a group of ~50 costumed girls parading with some dance movements and clapping with sticks to the rhythm of a big drum. Some 100m in front of them was a group of kids and youngsters with grim make-up also dancing or performing to a drum and in front of them older guys that I could not see clearly, but it seemed that they were dancing the most, including jumps.
After that, I soon reached the hotel and for the second time in China, I couldn’t take the bike in the hotel (and in most cases even in the room). But it is a parking with gate and guard and so, I am not too nervous.
In the afternoon, I went for some food and I don’t know why I bought this waffle-ice-cream combination, maybe the smell was so convincing? The taste of the ice-cream, the strawberries and the waffle were not…
such a neat and nice rocket 
Since some months I “plan” 2 projects and for one, today I made a decisive step to turn an idea into a pre-stage of a plan. The idea is to celebrate my 60th birthday in Uganda or “nearby”, depending on where my dear friend Pascal would be. Through couchsurfing, I learned to know many friends from far away countries and some of them I visit on this trip. But first, there are more friends, also in America or Russia, and second, I want to see them again as often as possible and third I want to introduce them to each other. (Btw, some relatives are also good friends for me).
So, please note, birthday party 2025 in Africa.
Besides seeing Pascal again and hopefully many friends, I want to make that meaningful in another way, too:
It should become a project with and for locals, a place for learning and teaching, something connected to my favourite subject, sustainability, and maybe after that useful as an orphanage, school or whatever. Depending on how much time, energy, money and -most of all!- vision, spirit and optimism this idea can raise, it could be something great or not.
And today, I wrote about that to Pascal, and he answered soon and in such a positive way that I am really excited! You should know that Pascal since many years is involved in different projects, in refugee camps and other places around Uganda, South Sudan and Kenya. His reaction showed me that this idea can be more than only crazy and well-meant.
