Slow to get out of bed and a little confused about the correct way
to get back onto the highway I give the taxi driver another call. Some
breakfast and a long chat later he escorts me, again in his taxi, out
of the city. An emotional farewell hug later and im back on the road,
albeit a little later than expected. It's gonna be a long few days till
the next big city.
Headwind is pretty intense today, but with my fresh legs make some
good time. At lunch time end up venturing over the Yellow River (its
massive!), but then the road turns to mush, and the surrounding
landscape into barren desert, a far cry from the green hills of the
week before. Suddenly realising I'm gonna have to camp,
(no accommodation for the next 60km) and without enough food and water
resources to make it comfortable, keep my eyes peeled for any sign of
civilization and shop to buy supplies. Happen upon a tiny village with
most houses built out of mud, I knock on the door of one of the
residents. Lo and behold a very eloquent young man opens the door whom
operates a shop from within. Supplied up he sends me on a shortcut to
get back on the main road. Eventually, with sun setting, I hike about
600m off the road and set up camp in a dry river bed. The sunset is
awesome and have a great feed and sleep, despite the roaring desert
wind.