A short diversion through a river bed with car 50 following us. The Australian/New Zealand Rover with an all-female crew had been placed second in our class until a few days ago when they unfortunately made a mistake with their timing that cost them 60 minutes. They are now third in our class and another Rover (same model) with a Hongkong/UK crew is now directly behind us.

Beginning of today's test section near a lake resort.

This truck driver uses a stone to block his wheels. Unfortunately, most Chinese truck drivers use big stones as "warning triangles". They build a fence of stones around their vehicles when they break down. As if the fear of hitting a stone was bigger than hitting the truck. When they have repaired their truck, they drive off and leave the stones where they have placed them. Nobody ever bothers to pick these stones up, even the police. So every five kilometres in China (more on steep climbs where trucks break down) one has to maneuver around these stones on the street.
Swiss team with their Studebaker in front.

After the test we have to drive through several diversions due to construction before we get back on the highway.

We are driving into the hills along a river valley.

Other then damaged tarmac, the test section's hardest bit is this dry river bed.

Mongolian shepherd with sheep and goat.

Some green, blue skies with clouds, at last

Zhangjiakou - small Chinese city surrounded by hills.