The trip to the countryside part four

After seeing the geese and visiting the house on teh way home, we drove off home.  We went back a different way.  I thought the way there was rough, but the way home gave Top Gear a run for its money!  But first we stopped besides at teh side of the road near what loked like corn plans but seemed to have no corn, just some purple stuff.  They all got out of the acr.  Walked into the field and came back with eth purple stuff.  Apparently some sort of ingredient for food or Chinese medicine.  I couldn't really work it out.

Then back into the car, and off down the road. Suddenly, as the road was going through farming area there was a bit of excitement.  They were pointing out of the window at some plants that were growing by the side of the road.  Of course, we stopped, parked up, got out and picked them.  The roots were the important thing.

 We got back into the car and drove off.  So far the road had a good surface, but it wasn't straight, soon it was to become steep, very steep as it wove its way around some beautiful valleys.  This looked like the old road, and the surface became increasingly poor and the width of the road much thinner.

The scenery was stunning, steep terraced hill, small villages, beuatiful scenery, but it was very hard to photograph because the road was so pitted and the trees at teh side of the road prevent any decent photography.  If only the camera could look through the trees like I could!

...and the journey didnt get any easier.  We were going slowly, but the van behind wanted to go quickly.  "Beep, beeep beeeeep!"  It is strange.  In England that would be seen as aggressive.   Nobody took any noice of it. Have car will beep! Every car has a rally loud horn and everyone uses their horn...always.  Anyway another feature of Chinese driving is the lack of forethought.  If you want to do a 'U' turn, you do one.  Everyone stops for you, eveyone beeps, but noone get raised blood pressure, they just beep and continue on texting or taking phonecalls whilst driving.  Finally I saw Jiangkou! The ourney must be over!  It wasn't.  As we descended the final road into Jiangkou, the road became increasingly narrow.  It was clear now that two cars would have great difficulty passing.  There wer passing places, but Jiangkou driving didn't really have any forethought.  At least once we got 'wedged' between a car and a barrier.  Interesting!  As we got into town, restaurtrant boss lady said she wanted to take us all out for a meal.  Hey, why not!  Except that it was about 6pm and I hadn't prepped work for next week! But you only get one chance!