...continued

The electricity frequently fails, so I am forced to divide this message so as not to lose the entire post (like I already have twice...arg).

By the third day we were on a country road surrounded by beautiful mountains and friendly faces. I have heard from so many people how welcoming and generous the people here are. I couldn't agree more. On numerous occasions we have stopped to rest at a village or on the side of the road and have had people offer us clean water and food. While some ask for a minimal amount of money, others flat out refuse any compensation. They just seem happy to meet us. This is the privilege of travel biking: we stop wherever and for however long we want. The journey now seems more important than the actual destination.
My favorite stop was on the fourth day. We slowly roll into the town of Namba and it's getting late. All the tour buses, heading towards Jiuzhaigou, quickly pass by. While I go for a run, my sister visits the local barber shop. When I return she is surrounded by the barber and her students. They refuse to charge and invite us to dinner. Maria's Mandarin is good enough to get us around. While I still struggle, I have quickly learned a few phrases and have managed to somehow start talking.

"Stop and smell the roses"
Whenever I see a challenge, I'm eager to grab it. I've always pushed myself and the physical aspect of travel biking was very appealing. Though it is a great feat to travel the furthest distance in as little time, it's a great shame to miss out on all these other opportunities. I am glad we did'nt press straight through Namba. I am slowly learning to take it easy here, to stop and smell, taste, listen, and see as much as I can everything.