WE ARE ON THE ROAD

It is 11pm and we have just completed 450 kms drive from Tianjin to Qufu: the birthplace  of Confucius. Another “experience plus day” which started at 8:30am sitting in the car park at Registration Bureau. Our sixth visit to gain our registration plates and documentation. We were promised we’d get them at 8:30 am sharp but we “wised up” and took  thermos of tea and refreshments. The scene looked a bit like a car boot luncheon at the races. We sat patiently in the car park until 3:10pm when the laminated plates and stickers for the cars materialised. There had been loads of workshopping about what was going on. The reason for the seven hour delay was that the computer system failed again and the documentation and numbers on the first set of certificates was incorrect and had to be changed. A day’s work.

Enough of that. We then “hot footed” it out of Tianjin. Once on the road our mild mannered mechanic Dan was repeatedly heard saying across the CB radio ”let it out Queenie these cars can go faster that that”. With this direction Queenie and Mr Lui then took off with the three cars keeping pace with them. On three extended occasions Ken and I lost sight of these skilful rally drivers cars   and putted along on the dark and rainy expressway doing between 90 and 100 kms. I certainly earnt my keep as a navigator as we weaved in and out between poorly lit trucks many of which had enormous loads which were scantily tied down.  Not particularly enjoyable travel, no lunch, no dinner just chips, snickers and biscuits, but Dan will be pleased that the cars performed well.

THE PLANS FOR THE TEAM…but everything is flexible

As a result of the five  delay in completing all the paperwork, the MGBGT drivers, spent part of Saturday, with Queenie, our guide planning an abridged   route in order to adhere to  our schedule and  meet up with Madeleine, then Macca and  to get to the border by the due date.

On Sunday night the whole team considered all options.  If Queensland cars are released by next Friday, Denise and Ian plan to truck their car to Xian in order to meet up with us. They have to truck the car as they do not have the permits to travel on the shortest possible route from Tianjin to Xian. We are informed it takes one month to get travel permits from the central government so it is impossible to change the route for the cars.

Dave’s preferred option is to drive to Naihui so that his car starts from the MG factory. He would  have his own guide and she would  be  driving with him in  an open top MGA. Dave says he is happy to buy her a beanie and rain gear. Dave is determined, if at all possible   to drive from MG factory in China to the  MG factory in England.  Fingers crossed the cars will be released ASAP so he can complete the drive to Naihui and  meet up with us in Xian.

In order to drive here you must apply for permits to travel in each province and you must report to provincial authorities along the way. This system doesn’t seem to allow for any  flexibility in terms of taking short cuts. The mandatory guide ensures that we travel the approved route.

During  our enforced  lay weekend we travelled into Beijing on the very fast train. Three hundred and thirty six kilometres per hour meant we were in Beijing in 29 minutes. Absolutely fantastic. You have to marvel at a system that can transport millions of people and is impeccably efficient, clean, and prompt and state of the art. We visited the recently completed National Centre for the Performing Arts. A dome shaped building constructed in titanium, like the Guggenheim at Bilbao.  The interior was spectacular. Stone, marble of every colour and hue and the slatted timber ceiling highlighted a range of beautiful wood. The external moat formed an internal ceiling at the underground entrance. Stunning.