Today was supposed to be a rest day. Not to be so! A hike was recommended by guide Ja last night to hike on the high trail along the gorge. So, up at 0630 and biked up to Tina’s Guest House about 4k uphill. Only Paul, Kathryn, Andrea and me were foolish enough to do this.

Hiking up a very steep rocky goat trail for 90 minutes, we finally reached the parallel trail. OMG, what spectacular views! We continued along a trail literally cut out of rock faces with hugely steep dropoffs. Do not slip!

Crossing one waterfall, we continued on our way to the Halfway Inn way the hell up on the mountain. Up to this point we had hiked about 14k (8.5m) and up about 200m (600f) and we are already at around 9000′ here and that is noticed breathing! A very wonderfully hot day too.

Troubles… Paul lagged behind us a bit as we arrived at the Inn for a break, coffee and tea. I saw him approaching and waved to him, never considering he could somehow not see the big red door to the inn!! We waited a while and in his absence we assumed he was taking pix; not so. He bypassed and continued on assuming we were still ahead.

The three of us finally started our way down the mountain, took 90 minutes to get to the main road, a narrow two lane paralleling the river. Paul had walked all the way ahead of us, then the 12k back to Tinas along that road. Poor Paul!!! What great fortune we had…We hit that road and after about 2k walking back, a taxi van stopped, we negotiated a price, and we were ecstatic to ride back to Tina’s!! Just 50 yuan, about $7.

We had two plates of excellent fried greens, sautéed shredded potatoes with ginger, shared a beer; that was 30 yuan; about $5. I love Asia!!

Biking back to Woodys where we stay tonight, then bike out of the gorge to the north.

Most folks are lounging in the warm air on the back patio where the south face of the gorge looms so large in your vision that your neck would hurt to see the top. My pictures will NEVER do this place justice…

Day 4 – Walnut Grove Rest Day We will have a free day in Tiger Leaping Gorge to rest your legs and take in the breathtaking scenery. For the energetic there is the option of taking a hike to the bottom of the gorge following small dirt paths along its dramatic cliff edges. Oth-erwise, just sit back and be mesmerized by the sheer natural beauty of this re-markable natural wonder. Tiger Leaping gorge is believed to be the deepest gorge in the world. At its narrowest section it is only 30 meters wide and it is from this point where according to an ancient legend a tiger used a rock as its stepping stone so it could leap across from one side of the gorge to the other. Chateau De Woody Guesthouse. B