Today we cycled for the first time all 119 km of our stage in the heat. The sun burned merciless on our heads, there was no cloud on the horizon.  At an average temperature of 38° C. we cycled all day through desert, no villages around. The only sign of life was a gas-station after some 74 km. Some 25 km later we stopped at another gas-station to get some rest in the shadow. To me, this stop came just in time, because I was seriously overheating. Not so for Curt, who despite all our yelling, shouting and whistling continued pedaling as if he were totally unaffected by the heat. This guy must be in great shape!

But when we finally reached Lintai, there was no Curt around! Hi did not see us stopping at the gas-station, nor did he hear our shouting and whistling. So he tried to catch up with us, not knowing that we were far behind him. Finally Chen, our driver found him and brought him back to our hotel.

The least I can say, is that Curt was “not amused”