Linyi is a gray city. Sorry, it’s true. Although pollution levels are fairly low, (relatively speaking for China!) more often than not the city is covered in gray clouds and haze. The dull weather can really do a number on your mood. It’s down right depressing! That’s why it is so exciting to see blue skies and fluffy white clouds. Blue skies are really invigorating and inspiring. A miracle happened this weekend, the miracle of blue skies, something we experience maybe once a month. While we lazed most of Saturday away, we had to get out of the house on Sunday, out to enjoy the marvel that is pure, unadulterated sunshine.
The DH and I celebrated the return of the sun by riding our bikes up the Yi River and out into the countryside. We pedaled through cornfields, down dirt tracks and through village lanes. I’m pretty sure we freaked out a lot of farmers.
I got a terrible sunburn. I know that I am 32 years old and by now I should know better. I do, I swear. I slathered myself up with sunscreen, as I always do. So either the sun was exceptionally strong or the crap just doesn’t work anymore, I don’t know. I do know that I have damaged my arms and I am in a great deal of pain. 
I’ll just have to comfort myself with the photos I took and a lot of after-sun lotion. And, possibly, strong painkillers.
Ivan on his bike, that basically fell apart during the ride.
Riverside walking/biking path with gardens.
Small rowboat, used for throwing out nets and fishing.
Upstream dam on the Yi River
Lock on the river. That gross green sludge is pretty representative of the state of the river. Let’s just say I wouldn’t swim and/or eat fish from it.
Shady lane between fruit orchards
Old style courtyard house we found in a small village.
Small village street – high class with paved road!
Entrance to an older, courtyard style home
Typical courtyard style house with colorful plants and wheat laid out to dry on the road.
Gemlin? Cute little dog outside a shop in village.
We followed this very rutted road through fields from one village to another.
Fields & irrigation ditches – full of tadpoles & frogs, surprisingly clear
Irrigation ditches, not in use
Horrible, heinous mud hole. For some reason I decided to pedal on through this. I got stuck. I was unbalanced. I had to put my foot down. In this muck. Muck that reeked suspiciously of pig dung. My foot was an inch deep. I was too distraught to take a photo. My only option was to trudge through it. I managed to rinse my feet in a nearby irrigation ditch, which was loaded with tadpoles & frogs. Ack!
Farmer lady on a wagon, wisely wearing a broad-rimmed hat
Unfortunately, village garbage usually ends up in heaps at the sides of the roads, in the ditches or in a pond.
Typical dirt lane in between houses in village
Hot, sunny days invariably means it is time to wash/dry/air bedding. It is ubiquitous. (Taken in our apartment complex.)
Hope nobody plans on using the playground equipment!
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What a cute dog