26 September. So today was our day off; completely dedicated to rest,
relaxation, and sight seeing. But I decided, after much
“encouragement” from the rest of the group to go for a run. Running
in a foreign place is one of the best ways to really take in a locale.
The pace allows for you to observe and think about things that you
would otherwise miss.
My guess is that the run was about 5 miles—a fairly short distance in
comparison to the other physical activity we have been involved in.
It was easy but it also hurt. There certainly was a general tightness
in my legs given our rides, but the real pain came from the incredibly
bad air here. My lungs were on fire; my throat sore; my nose
dripping. All of us complained of sinus issues and notices growing
cases of the “Chinese Crud.”
We had read about the respiratory problems of Chinese citizens prior
to the start of the trip. At each stop so far it has been reinforced
by men and women of all ages “hocking a loogey“ anywhere in public。
But it takes being here to understand exactly how bad it is.
All Chinese cities of any size or growth, which in China means of a
couple hundred thousand or more, seem to carry with it a foggy haze
that can blot out the sun. In the cities we have seen, one can see
lots of buildings and streets ripped up and wide open with piles of
dirt, rock, and equipment nearby. The workers and the dense traffic
kick up all kinds of dust. Along the roads, one can see diesel trucks
and motorcycles oozing thick black smoke, mechanics at their
storefronts performing their trade spilling oils and fluids on to the
sidewalks and roads, and pedestrians adding their own litter. Even in
the rural areas the amount of burning of random things that occurs
have left us will foul smells and lingering sinus pressures during the
rides.
To think of the tremendous growth in China throughout the hundreds if
not thousands of cities provides only a small indication of the scale
and scope of this pollution problem. A booming economy can leave
these sorts of things in the dust—literally. The lack of
understanding, appreciation, and concern of the problem only suggests
how difficult it will be to overcome.
So until then and for the rest of our ride, we push on, wipe the grit
from our face, spew the crud from our lungs, and enjoy the amazing
sights and incredible people we encounter. China is changing before
our eyes and it will never be like this again.
