We saw pandas, lots of them. It was fab.

When we got back I went to find a 7/11 for a few last minute things. I passed a hairdresser and thought bugger the shopping, I’m going for a blow dry so I can at least start the rally with decent hair. It was full of beautiful, hyper trendy beautiful kids. None of them spoke any English, the the speech translate app is terrific. For the washing, I was on a horizontal massaging bed that pummelled and squeezed me from neck to feet. It was a little disconcerting in the lower portions. The lovely young man did a great job with my hair and at the end, wanted to take pics with me.

We then had a big briefing from Kim about the route and our doc, John, on the altitude. We are going as high as 18,000 feet so it is a bit anxious making and is something to be taken very seriously.

In a few hours we will be off. We are all so excited, slightly nervous and glad to be leaving, grey, smog clogged Chengdu. Woohoo!