A short time at Wuling Farm

We arrived at Wuling Farm (武陵農場) rather late and set up camp. Most people were already having a barbecue going – using gas, as fires were not allowed. My companions were excellent cooks and we had a delicious meal.

In one tent four of our male companions played Mahjong. I am not a skilled player and still play too slowly to join the seasoned gents. The temperature dropped to freezing and I slept in jeans and a jacket, and still the sleeping bag was proving inadequate.

Breakfast consisted of congee, a watery rice meal, but for me a traditional Western breakfast of toast and fried egg was made. After breakfast we set off to look at the nearby flower garden and herbal garden. The flowers were all dead and the herbal garden so neglected that it was difficult to distinguish between herb and weed.

Several campers headed in the same direction, and we learned that there was an ablution block which was less used and thus noticeable cleaner. A raised wooded walk path took us back to our camp past Hydrangeas being pollinated by giant bees. Even early in the morning one could see workers tending the tea plantations further up the mountain slopes.

Many early travelers had trouble navigating the grassy cover that was our camping floor as it was wet and wheels could not get a grip on the slippery growth. We avoided the wet, and now mushy areas when we drove out of the camping grounds.