Xi’an!!!

Today was another fun day of great riding, posing for photos, and linking up with China’s  RX3 owners on our ride to and in Xi’an!   We are exactly halfway through our epic adventure, and tomorrow we’ll see the Terra Cotta soldiers.  They are the Eighth Wonder of the Ancient World, and all by themselves, they are worth the trip to China.   I can’t wait.

After a rousing welcome last night and a great dinner with the Baoji RX3 owners club, we stopped in at Baoji’s Zonghen dealership this morning.  They sure had an interesting collection of motorcycles on display, including this cool little Zongshen Grom competitor.    Check out Lu and Zuo playing around with one…while Joe Gresh grabs a photo with his iPhone…

I like this bike…its engine is based on the old Honda Super 90 engine, and I can tell you from personal experience they were bulletproof even 50 years ago!

Dueling Nikons, with Furem…

The Baoji RX3 club met up with us again on our way out of town, and we had a signing ceremony before we left.   The Chinese have a custom of signing banners, jackets, and more.  We’ve probably signed 6 or 7 of these kinds of banners so far on our China trip.

Immediately after the early morning meet with the Baoji club, we rode 120 kilometers on a beautiful road to Xi’an.   Dong led the way, as he is from Baoji and he knows the area.

Dong and Lu at a traffic light…

We stopped for a break at a pond with lotus flowers…

This young fellow graciously consented to a photo…

…as did these folks.

Lu grabs a selfie…

As we approached Xi’an, the Xi’an RX3 owners club met us.   It was more of the celebrity treatment when we met them just outside Xi’an….photos, greetings, more photos, and then Mr. Chen led us into town.  That’s Xi’an you see in the background.  Imagine that…riding an RX3 to Xi’an!

My rearview mirror in downtown Xi’an…

You might have thought I was joking about being a celebrity over here.   Far from it, my friends.   Gresh and I are the real deal in China.  You want a photo, you stand in line…

When we arrived at the Xi’an Zongshen dealer, this young lady anointed Gobi and me with flower wreaths…this is how we roll, folks.

Another group photo…

I gave my wreath to the little girl who gave it to me.  It looks better on her, I think…

The Chinese like watermelon.  So do I.  It’s very hot and extremely humid in Xi’an, and that watermelon was greatly appreciated.

That’s the Xi’an Zongshen dealership owner piloting this RX3, and one of his friends on the back…

We had a great lunch, and we’re headed out to dinner in a bit.  It’s a place where we are going to learn how to make dumplings.   This should be fun.  I’m bringing my camera.  Stay tuned, Amigos.