Yangze River Dam
Trip Start
Mar 25, 2012
1
9
22
Trip End
Apr 14, 2012
Yichang, Hubei, China
Monday, April 2, 2012
The first stage is up to the The Three Gorges Dam, but first there is a hiatus as an optional tour leaves the boat and we have to wait until it returns - very frustrating but time to catch up on some sleep.
There are many cargo boats heading up river to the dam where they will negociate the 5 massive ship locks to reach the middle reaches of the Yangze and continue up the river to Chongqing. They are carrying manufactured goods, cars, coal and acting as ferries for commerical vehicles.
At last we are moving on up to the dam where we all get off the boat and take a bus to visit it.
The morning had been very cold. I had for the first time put on my fleece but by the time we reached the dam it was much warmer - in the 20's.
Taking pictures of the dam was really difficult as on the up river side there is nothing to see - just alot of water and on the downstream side the angle was pretty impossible and grey concrete looks much the same anyway but it was massive and pretty impressive but not at all photogenic. It would have been different if it had been releasing water but the water level is relatively low and they are just quietly making massive amounts of electricity.
To reach the bus we had to run the gaunlet of traders selling all the standard tourist items. We are getting better at ignoring the pleas.
Once on board the ship gets in line for the ship locks, it is expected that the transit will take some hours.
We were very glad to get back on the boat and get dressed up for the Captain's Reception, supper and a Costume Show very credibly staged by the ships crew. The star being - The head of Housekeeping!
