After the inspection we said our goodbyes to Kelly and Rene until race day and took our sore and shaky legs to the bus, headed for Jinxian. We had thought we'd be staying in the country, but we were actually to be billeted in an industrial town - smog city.
But our hotel was great, until we tried to have a relaxing swim in the heated indoor pool. It would cost us 20 RNB each, but alas, we did not have swimming caps! Without a knowledge of English, we were told that we needed swimming caps because that was the rule! While Megan was attempting to plead our capless case, I glanced over at the pool. I spied a woman wading through the water, cap on her head, having a good blow of her nose and shaking the product into the water! Now I understood the reason for the caps - to keep the snot out of your hair! Thanks, but we'll give the swim a miss.
We headed into town and did some shopping. Managed to buy a wardrobe of clothing by using combinations of sign language, charades and pictionary. Also managed to find a supermarket, and negotiate our way across 4 intersections. And took a tuk tuk home.
Deciding to have a relaxing afternoon, we were disturbed by sirens. Two fire engines arrived downstairs, and we noticed smoke billowing out of the hotel across the road. Major panic and running up and down. But the fire was out in no time, with not too much damage.
We had been aware of some whistle blowing intermittently throughout the day. Finally figured out that it was coming from the stadium next door. We had a superb view of large numbers of school kids running around the track in an 8 by 8 platoon formation. At speed. And for a full hour! And the groups kept coming throughout the day.
I've mentioned our lunch before, and dinner was a delightful Chinese version of spaghetti, with various sauces. And each meal allowed us to meet more of our fellow runners. Imagine my surprise when I came across a mum from Brisbane, ex South African, who's kids go to Erinn's school! Small world.
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