I do end up getting up early today and am miraculously riding before sunrise, powering through the darkness. unfortunately the sun is rising behind me and have to keep peering around to catch a glimpse, come drastically close to colliding with a number of busses... i hate busses. the slight tailwind ensured i travelled the 70 km to AnXi very quickly. Even had time to stop in internet cafe/road stall for a bit of blogging and what would turn out to be a longer than expected break leaving me alot of cycling to do before the day end.

I had previously decided to cycle to a town called LiuYuan. Another 70km away. The wind had changed to headwind. Gradually the legs started to melt away. 30km to go, a rugged mountain range appears out of nowhere. Realising the town lay beyond (or, as it turns out, ontop) of this range, i stopped at a very random shop on the side of the road in the middle of the desert. The 2 kids running the shop mentioned they had served a few cyclists at this very stop recently whom had signed their names on the walls, pen thrust in my hand i did the same before continuing on my way, tackling the steep uphill and eventually making it to the only, overpriced, hotel in town.

I fell over walking into the lobby. Legs had at this time turned into soft mush. didn't get a chance to shower, brush teeth or eat as i passed out momentarily after falling on my bed. could well have been the most exhausted i've been on the trip so far. and definitely the most smelly i've been on the trip so far the next morning.