After our first introduction to rural life in Yunnan it was time to move on and discover the delights of Leaping Tiger gorge. First we had to follow our tracks and make our way back to the Yangt-Ze via Qiaotou where we could visit another market and then pick up our horses for the trail to Leaping Tiger gorge.
Before we had made much progress we came upon a simple road block . It was a protest against the authorities who had not provided enough money to bury a recently deceased old lady . Her distant family created the road block to get some action and action we saw when the police arrived to sort this domestic issue out . Visually not very exciting but this is typical of rural China where the state still has a strong role to play in everyone lives, even at death. 
A perfect terrace in the mountains. We spent ages trying to fine one just so. In truth it is one amongst hundreds if not thousands of perfect specimens littering the countryside in Northwest Yunnan.
This truck has been carried over the Yangt-Ze via a small ferry. The only way for many, since bridges are not that common .
On arrival in market town of Qiaotou ,Shelly took us to see this monument illustrating the great march and how the local people supported the soldiers at that time. Very communist and I thought a powerful visual message for onlooker.
This street doctor was looking into his patients eyes to see what was wrong with them and I guess prescribe something.
This old man is wonderful and should have been a character actor. I'm grateful he was happy to have his picture taken.
These two gentlemen sat at the bridge featured earlier. Their music was most haunting and very beautiful conjuring up a China of the early 20th century.
After a fine lunch ,as ever arranged by Shelly, our driver carried on with our journey passing the Yangt-Ze to our left. It is at this point the river makes a 180 degree turn. Look at Google Earth and you will see.
We soon arrived at our dropping off point where we changed in preparation for our afternoon ride to a guest house on the Leaping Tiger trail . As I might have mentioned earlier. I get the feeling our mule's were not used to being ridden independently hence we had a leader with each mule. We made a handsome party and our leaders were the most jolly bunch we could ask for ,always laughing, signing songs.;traveling with them was a joy.
The next entry looks at our journey along the trail.
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