After a good night and good breakfast I said goodbye to the Holiday Inn staff and made my way out of the city. Well, even as it was as Sunday morning, it took me over an hour before I reached the outskirts of this megacity and after maybe another 10 minutes it becomes immediately very rural, dusty and grey, with the 8 lane ring roads turning into bumpy 2 lane national roads. That would not be a problem, if you would not have to share the same road with endless chains of trucks into both directions, and the navigation girl is reminding you, you, you are in a 15 km long Speed enforcement zone and you are ‘significantly speeding ‘ while you are getting chased by the cars behind you. After two hours I made a cookie and juice stop at another petrol station and people started chatting with me about where I’m from, where I go and how old I am. Pictures are taken again and after I brought the morning coffee away and replenished it with grapefruit juice I went off for the next two hours.
I have passed a fair share of tunnels on this trip already, but today it was a bit over the top, not so much because of the lengths or number of tunnels, but because of the conditions in the tunnels. The vast majority had not a single light and are pitch dark and I have not seen a single ventilation system, so sight ahead is limited to maybe 50 meters. This ate all single tube, two lane tunnels without any emergency strip, not 10 cm. In one tunnel, one of the cars was standing (broke engine or running out of battery/fuel), no hazard lights on, people running around in absolute darkness and the truck drivers had to negotiate who goes first. So you stand in the tunnel, completely dark and wonder how this fumes having an impact on your health system and if you will still remember when you suddenly drop to the side losing consciousness.
But the best was the bicycle group that used the same tunnel, with only a few having something like a headlight, and the trucks had to overtake them in the tunnel. The only good thing about that was, that it convinced me that if they can make it through a 5 km long Tunnel on a bicycle in darkness and in fumes, I should be good on a motorcycle, even when standing.
I arrived at the hotel around 3pm, all together relaxed, and once I saw the hotel apartment, I decided to stay in the hotel and not drive up to Taoping, to visit the ancient watch towers from the ancient Quiang society (1,200 BC). Instead, enjoying the view after a good shower and reading about the details of this mysterious society, what, I think, will give more insights, then driving up the mountains over an hour and back on steep slopes, challenged by trucks and cars … And other big bikes. Today was the first day, I saw a significant number of bigger bikes and big scooters, including the first BMW 1250 GSA I saw in China.
Here is the Road book briefing of today.
Cronjob Response: Morning Expedition Brief (Weather & Traffic)
(job_id: e3b05e0e6390)
————-
🏙️ MORNING BRIEF — Saturday, 13 June 2026 · Day 14
REST DAY — Chengdu (C1-11)
—
☀️ Chengdu Today
Morning
• Condition: Smoky haze
• Temp: 26°C (feels 27°)
• Wind: ↙ 5 km/h
• Rain: 0%
Noon
• Condition: Partly cloudy
• Temp: 28°C (feels 29°)
• Wind: ↖ 9 km/h
• Rain: 5%
Evening
• Condition: Sunny
• Temp: 31°C (feels 32°)
• Wind: ← 11 km/h
• Rain: 2%
Night
• Condition: Patchy rain poss.
• Temp: 28°C (feels 29°)
• Wind: ↖ 9 km/h
• Rain: 10%
Currently: Smoky haze, 23°C, 78% humidity, visibility 10 km. Classic Chengdu summer day — hazy but dry.
—
🎯 Today’s Activities *(from roadbook)*
1. 🐼 Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding — go early, pandas are most active 8–10 AM before heat sets in.
2. 🏛️ Wuhou Shrine — mid-morning, mostly shaded.
3. 🛍️ Jinli Street — afternoon stroll, touristy but photogenic.
4. 🍵 People’s Park tea house — mandatory “slow life” immersion. Go late afternoon when the heat breaks. Order a jasmine tea, let the ear-cleaners find you.
💡 Dining tip: Try a proper Sichuan hotpot tonight (Shu Daxia or Haidilao near Wuhou). Last chance for Chengdu-level spice before you climb into Tibetan-influenced cuisine in Aba.
—
🔴 ⚠️ DIAMOX PROTOCOL — START TODAY
**Trigger**
• Detail: Day+2 (Mon 15 Jun): Wenchuan → Zoige
**Zoige altitude**
• Detail: 3,500m+ (Alpine plateau)
**Current Zoige conditions**
• Detail: Light sleet, +6°C, 87% humidity, 0.8mm precip
**15 Jun Zoige forecast**
• Detail: Sunny 11°C morning → Partly cloudy 15°C noon. Clearing trend. ✅
**Diamox pills remaining**
• Detail: 33
**Action**
• Detail: 💊 Begin 125 mg twice daily TODAY (first dose now, second this evening)
**Rationale**
• Detail: 48-hour advance prophylaxis. Tomorrow (Wenchuan, ~1,300m) is your step-up acclimatization day. By Monday morning the Diamox will be fully active for the 3,500m+ plateau.
🔑 Zoige is your first true high-altitude segment. Don’t skip this. Diamox side effects (tingling fingers/toes, carbonated drink
RIDING DAY: Chengdu → Wenchuan (C1-12)
**Route**
• Detail: Chengdu → Taoping → Wenchuan (汶川)
**Distance**
• Detail: 152 km
**Est. time**
• Detail: 2h 17min
**Road**
• Detail: G317 — “Gorge Climb, entry to Aba Prefecture”
**Max altitude**
• Detail: ~1,300m (Wenchuan)
**Hotel**
• Detail: Wenchuan Zhiyunwuyou Homestay · CNY 52
**Kurviger**
• Detail: https://kurv.gr/SytbU
**Alt Kurviger**
• Detail: https://kurv.gr/xrnPB
—
🌤️ Route Weather — Sunday 14 June
**Chengdu (6 AM)**
• Condition: Smoky haze
• Temp: 23°C
• Humidity: 78%
• Wind: ← 4 km/h
• Rain: 0%
**Taoping (midpoint)**
• Condition: Sunny
• Temp: 14°C
• Humidity: 46%
• Wind: ↑ 4 km/h
• Rain: 0%
**Wenchuan (arrival ~10 AM)**
• Condition: Sunny
• Temp: 24°C
• Humidity: 55%
• Wind: ← 5 km/h
• Rain: 3%
Wenchuan evening
• Condition: Patchy rain
• Temp: 29°C
• Humidity: —
• Wind: ↖ 12 km/h
• Rain: 0.2mm / 18%
Wenchuan night
• Condition: Patchy rain
• Temp: 22°C
• Humidity: —
• Wind: ↗ 4 km/h
• Rain: 0.1mm / 19%
✅ No precipitation during riding window. Late evening patchy rain is negligible (0.1–0.2 mm, <20% probability). No fog — 10 km visibility all points.
—
⚠️ Risk Assessment
**Fog**
• Level: 🟢 LOW
• Detail: 10 km visibility across all waypoints. Morning mountain fog unlikely at this elevation.
**Rain**
• Level: 🟢 LOW
• Detail: Zero rain during riding hours. Evening sprinkle is cosmetic only.
**Road surface**
• Level: 🟡 CAUTION (1/2)
• Detail: G317 is paved but winding. Roadbook: “High landslide risk on G317 in June.” No active precipitation = low trigger, but structural hazard exists. Stay alert in gorge sections.
**Rockfall**
• Level: 🟡 CAUTION
• Detail: Baseline June risk on G317. With dry conditions today/tomorrow, probability is low but not zero. Watch for fallen debris in blind corners — standard mountain-road discipline.
**Temperature**
• Level: 🟢 LOW
• Detail: 23°C → 14°C → 28°C. Pack a wind layer for the Taoping mountain segment. Shed it in Wenchuan.
**Fuel**
• Level: 🟢 LOW
• Detail: Fill up in Chengdu. Wenchuan has stations. Only 152 km — easily within one tank.
**Altitude**
• Level: 🟢 LOW
• Detail: Max ~1,300m. No acute risk. Diamox will be active by this point (prophylaxis, not treatment).
—
🟢 VERDICT: GO ✅
All clear. No weather showstoppers. Dry roads, good visibility, short riding day.
—
⏰ Optimal Departure: 07:30 AM from Chengdu
**Beat the haze**
• Detail: Chengdu smog thickens by 10 AM. Clearer air on G317 earlier.
**Golden light**
• Detail: Sunrise 06:00. By 07:30 you have good light on the gorge climb into Aba.
**Arrive Wenchuan by ~10:00**
• Detail: Before any afternoon mountain weather instability. Plenty of time to settle in, explore Wenchuan’s earthquake memorial if desired.
**Avoid PM rain**
• Detail: Patchy rain only hits Wenchuan after 18:00. You’ll be showered and fed by then.
—
✅ Pre-Flight Checklist — Tonight
– [ ] ⛽ Fuel: Top off in Chengdu tonight (avoid morning scramble)
– [ ] 🧥 Layers: Windbreaker/jacket accessible — Taoping mountain segment drops to 14°C
– [ ] 💊 Diamox: Take second dose this evening (first dose NOW)
– [ ] 🔗 Kurviger loaded: https://kurv.gr/SytbU
– [ ] 🏨 Hotel confirmed: Wenchuan Zhiyunwuyou Homestay · 1578947199927464 (Trip.com)
– [ ] 📱 Offline maps: Download G317 segment; Aba Prefecture has patchy cell coverage
– [ ] 🎒 Rain gear: Pack on top — while rain is unlikely, G317’s June reputation earns the precaution
– [ ] 🐼 Pandas first: Get to the Panda Base by 7:45–8:00 AM today for best viewing
—
📅 Day+2 Look-Ahead (Mon 15 June): Wenchuan → Zoige
**Distance**
• Detail: 337 km · ~5 hours
**Max altitude**
• Detail: 3,500m+ (Alpine grasslands)
**Zoige forecast**
• Detail: Sunny 11°C → Partly cloudy 15°C. Cold but dry.
**Road**
• Detail: Open plateau, wide roads. Sudden hail is a June hazard.
**Fuel**
• Detail: Fill in Wenchuan. Stations sparse between Chuanzhusi and Zoige.
💊 Diamox will be fully active. Expect 3,500m — hydrate aggressively on Sunday and Monday morning. First sign of headache: slow down, don’t push the pace. The road is straight; there’s no hurry.
—
Ride safe tomorrow. Today: enjoy the pandas, the tea, and the last proper Sichuan meal before the Tibetan plateau. 🏍️🐼🍵
Wenchuan was quite an interesting surprise, neat and lots of park walk ways along the river in perfect temperatures. Tomorrow is a long day, divi went to bed early.
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