Fujian is the undiscovered gem of China and cycling the back roads through the lesser known tulou ( traditional multi storied hakka fortresses) and tea fields of Yongding and Nanjing uncovers a rich heritage of architecture and tea culture. Xiamen airport is the start and finish point of this trip, which fits comfortably into a weekend, but which feels like a great active holiday.
Guangdong, Kaiping is where the sweet waters of the Tan River feed into fields of kryptonite-green paddy and clumping bamboo, carved up by small farmers pathways which make for easy flat riding. Rich in rice and fish and human labour ripe for Shanghaiing, this back water of the Pearl River Delta was a mecca for bandits, warmongers and kidnappers. Kaipingers defended themselves from watchtowers called Diaolou. The epicentre of the Guangdong overseas migration, cash loaded returning returning-Chinese ornamented the dialou with facades, columns and curleques influenced by Turkish, European and post gold-rush baroque.
Yangshou is rural China at its best! Cycle by golden-mud brick peasant homes set in the rice paddies amidst stunning limestone karst scenery. Set along the Li and Yulong river, Yangshuo is renowned for cormorant fisherman serenely fishing the waters with these magnificent birds . It is flat riding, light and piquant farm fresh food and stunningly rustic once you are off the beaten track.
Guizhou: Stay tuned for our first Guizhou trip to be announced for this coming autumn. Think wind and rain bridges, Ming dynasty drum towers and Indigo clad Miao villagers offering up delcious home made rice whisky as they welcome you to their homes.
Chiangmai is just a couple of hours direct flight from Hong Kong now with evening fligts that make a weekend bikeway cheap and easy. Stay in a tradional rice barn converted into a boutique mountain side hotel, cycle past elephant camps and hill tribe villages into Chiangmai’s moated city and on for a night cycle to the markets and bars that make Chiangmai one of Thailands most vibrant and colourful cities.
Shikoku is a bhuddist island near Osaka that rains cherry blossoms in Sakura season. Ride with us next April along the bhuddist pilgrimage route , finishing up with the magnificent bridges that criss cross the Simanami waterways.
Italian Wineries is a tour under slow development. Thanks to our sponsor Castello Del Vino who have provided Italian wines and celebratory Prosecco on several of our rides, the tastes and landscapes of Italy are becoming part of our future cycle touring plans. Stay tuned as we bring suppliers with stunning accomodations and cycleways through the vineyards into the fold.
El Camino de Santiago is traditonaly a pilgrim route for people walking to the cathedral that holds the bones of the apostle St Jame’s. It overlays an even older pagan pilgrimage to the end of the world at Finnesterre. Walking is a reflective and soul searching experience. Doing it by bike, lets you whip through to the best bits, enjoy the art and architecture in the cathedrals, and spend more time on the important things like the Rioja wine, the delicious tapas, and restaurants along the way.
Set departures will be listed for all these trips on our Calendar page. For private group bookings please contact bruce_foreman@yahoo.com.au