Think of this as a repositioning day. Lots of travel - with a happy ending.
It was go go go for the first part of the morning and @Leila and @Molly were in hyper organisation mode. There was only a 30 minute window to have breakfast and to board the bus.
At 6.30 as the dining room doors opened, the group filed in and filled plates (for eating now) and plastic bags (for later.) And just like that the entire group was all present and accounted for and on the bus at 7 am.
All we had to do at this end was "spot" our luggage and the Porter took care of everything. Mind you, we did have the "mystery of the missing gold glasses case" to solve even before the bus departed but with a careful body search of nearly every fellow traveller in the front section the bus, it was found and it was crisis averted. At one stage I thought I might need elbow length plastic gloves to rule out all possibilities.
Next on the to-do list was the hand over of cash to @Leila to cover the cost of the upcoming TripaDeal excursions and the predetermined guide tip. Thankfully all calculations on our behalf were spot on and row by row the travellers counted out the correct combinations of yuan and Aussie dollars.
Arrived at the station with time to have a wander around. A little bit more shopping, a coffee, a few more conversations and it was time to board. The "foreigners" were escorted on first through a "priority" gate and seated first. Then, the flood gates were opened and the locals pushed and shoved their way to their seats. The group was spread through carriages 2, 3, 6 and 8 and although some husbands and wives were separated, miraculously our group was all together. Had to laugh because not sure who was happier, the husband or the wife ... when the partners were split up. We have had a few whispers from other ladies in the group that they wanted to join the-Fab5+1 and ditch their men .. I'm sure they're joking.
We were treating this as a rest day. Found our seats and settled in for lots of conversations with the expanding group which meant tells, retells and retells of the retells as we wandered the aisles. I could do some writing - there were plenty in the group with magazines and puzzles and unread page turners they had been clutching since they left Australia. I had great stories from @ Lyn and @Jason who both work for the prison in Woodford.
Kept me entertained until I succumbed to the neck roll and apparently looked like a curled up koala on a log. I think I was the koala ... not the log ... although I definitely slept soundly until lunch. But then the trip was half over!
The train journey from Chengdu to Yichang is a scenic adventure through the heart of China. When you think about it, we traversed in under 7 hours the distance we will cover on the boat over 5 days!
... infrastructure and farmlands... through "the mist"
We left the bustling metropolis of Chengdu, and traveled northeast through constantly changing landscapes—lush farmlands, misty mountains, and river valleys, deep gorges and a mix of rural dwellings, small farmlands and rows and rows of cultivated land. It was a mix of rural charm and urban life - but one thing was obvious - not much along the 1500 km + journey was uninhabited. Very different from Australia where @Julie reflected on her outback car journeys, where you could literally travel all day with just the company of an emu and a kangaroo.
Lots of noodle prep on board ... Jason was solo in car 8 and had prepared his pick up lines in the translator
The train journey is appropriately described as a window into China's natural beauty and regional diversity. But what could be equally billed as jaw dropping, should be the pervasiveness of incredible infrastructure. Our train journey was completed on a track that was perched on concrete pillars high above the gorges - we were never at road level. When we came back to earth it was to traverse through tunnels and there were dozens of them. I know we didn't, but with the determined not-to-be-denied way the train line was constructed I would not have been surprised if we were travelling "as the crow flies." No mountain could stop this train line.
The sheer scale of everything leaves you shaking your head in awe. Overhead power lines and support pylons were a constant companion to the route, along with elevated viaducts and dramatic bridges which stretched the limits of belief - their incredible construction and unique design, the norm rather than the exception.
These elements showcased China’s advanced rail engineering and their willingness to commit investment into the transport, communication amd power infrastructure. Couldn't help but think we could use their assistance in preparing for the Olympics.
We got the 20 minute heads up from @Leila to prepare and were dutifully organised and lined up around her blue flag.
The next step was the only arduous part of the day. Each passenger was responsible for their own luggage. Things have blown out a little in the last few days with purchases. So as well as the stuff each person had brought to China in the form of check in and carry on, there was the added responsibility of the bought stuff - souvenirs, for some the Silk doonas and for everyone there had been food supplies - but we could celebrate because now the lunch supplies for the six and a half hour train journey had disappeared!
We had to trundle this from the platform to the awaiting bus. A little bit of a dash through the rain saw us all settled in the bus for the 60 minute bus journey that would deliver us to the pier.
We had been here 14 years ago and the Yangtzee was just as calm, the skies were just as "misty" and the boats were equally prolific. There was even one moored with the name MV KATARINA as a little reminder of my precious baby girl at home. What had changed though, was the infrastructure on shore. All those years ago, we had carefully picked our way down the hill to the water level following our luggage which was transported by a Porter with a bamboo pole with our luggage balance on each end. Today, an expansive car park and greeting hall, complete with security, a gift shop and snacks and alcohol was the prelude to a quick cable car ride to the water's edge.
Welcome aboard the China Goddess 2. Staff lined the walk way and shepherded you through the doorway to the meeting room (that also serves as the eating room) to be welcomed aboard by @Jenny.
Welcome aboard
Not sure how much of the 30 minute briefing was absorbed by anyone in the room because the PowerPoint presentation filled with tour outlines, costs, organisation and the safety briefing, had people nodding off by the description of the second gorge. They do deserve praise though, because @Jenny's run down was really a means of holding the group of 80+ while each passenger presented their passport and was individually checked in and issued keys.
Our to do list was coming to an end. We navigated the stairs and lifts with reclaimed luggage and found our rooms - at the front of the boat, two on one side with an interconnected balcony and one on the other- but all close together.
The boat is aged but comfortable and pleasantly appointed to accommodate two people. @Von and I did have to move the beds a little so that it was possible to access the wardrobe but other than that we had no complaints and with a little show of excitement started the process of unpacking. What a luxury, in the one place for four nights!
The rooms have a speaker system in them that can't be over ridden - but it can be turned down, thankfully. All the announcements are piped directly to your cabin. @Jenny was soon announcing that it was time for dinner and we gathered for a shared buffet in the Level 3 dining room. Plenty of variety on offer but I am looking forward to joining a venue with fewer people from tomorrow morning.
Maybe cocktails and cards aren't the perfect mix
Rounded out the evening with a game of Five Crowns ensconced in the bar and entertainment area. Had the shuffle machine fired up and would say for the rounds with 3, 4, 5 and 6 cards we were pretty much under control. But as the red wine flowed, and @Carolyn's genius ideas tumbled out one after the other to near standing ovation status, things sort of deteriorated.
At about this time, @Jenny arrived with the next PowerPoint presentation with the 200 local Chinese passengers in tow, who make up the ship's complement. With the 400 km an hour high pitched spiel in the background delivered to the quietly seated Chinese speaking passengers, combined with every Aussie on board stopping by to ask 'What are you playing' and now blurred by a round of cocktails, it was no wonder that @Cheryl's voice volume was on max. There was so much noise, it was almost predictable that at one point, her personal "amplification device" was going to be the crowning glory to the Five Crowns deck.
By the rounds with 11, 12 and 13 cards we were collectively catatonic with laughter. The disasters, jokes, mis heard Chinese whispers of conversation and the sheer volume was out of control. We couldn't make eye contact across the table because even that would set off those deep, eyes filled with tears spasms of laughter.
You know, unreservedly, I blame @Tina our new second best friend and all round angel of a bar attendant - it's definitely all her fault. The deeply inate competitiveness of everyone around the table didn't help, because every winning hand, losing card, lucky draw of a wild card was part of the commentary and as @Cheryl and @Julie started to produce the magic of laying their hand down in the first round, the roars of indignation from the losers echoed around the room.
Guess we have to acknowledge (begrudgingly) the impressive score of @Julie in winning the game and maybe keep @Denise's blow out record high losing score a secret. Just saying, @Carolyn did pick up a joker from under @Julie's seat as we packed up. Highly suspicious - will be keeping an eye on that!
Oops, there was a collective moment of clarity from the group as we started to leave the area. A sudden realisation that we had missed the last step on the To Do list. We were supposed to book and pay for our ship organised excursions. Thank goodness the staff were still there at 10.30 at night! And, that they had their patience with them because choices and money almost equals chaos. Somehow, they worked their way through it and we have our tickets in hand for the next few days.
A cuppa on the balcony rounded out the night. We're not going anywhere ... the China Goddess 2 remains docked all night and with our gear piled in preparation for the morrow we were relieved to draw some zzzzzzzs, content in the knowledge that @Jenny would wake us with perfect timing for our next round of activities.
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