We started this tradition of a Thanksgiving Adventure Trip to Yangshuo. This is our 5th Thanksgiving in Yangshuo. We didn’t go last year and everyone missed the adventure. Five families are sharing the Thanksgiving adventure. It is the usual gang of past Thanksgivings to include the Jenkins (Jennifer, Scott, Sean & Sophie) and the Brennans (Judy, Dan, Danielle & Erin). This year two new family joined us – the Gandys (Lisa, Mark, Kaitlin & Will) and the Jacobs (Rachael, Mike, Joshua and Alyssa). The Jacobs are from Australia and this is their first ever celebration of the American holiday. We have 20 people in total with 10 kids and 10 adults.
Thursday, Day One Adventure
We met at the airport gate. The Gandys and the Brennans were at a 50th birthday party the night before. Lisa and Dan both came home with food poison. Judy and Mark managed to slide pass the bad food. Dan almost didn’t come on the trip as he looked terrible. He was moving slow all weekend!
We left Shanghai at 8:50am – on time – to arrive in Guilin at 11:25am – on time! Erin was asking if this was the airport with the metal palm trees. Of course, the adults had no idea, but she was correct!
We gathered our luggage and piled into the bus. It takes about an hour to drive to Yangshuo. We are taking the super highway with tolls.
We ALWAYS stay at the Mountain Retreat. The rooms are basic, but the hotel and the location are fabulous.
The best part of the room is the covered deck to enjoy the view.
The view from our deck.
In the past, we have stopped at the rest stops to buy beer. Two rest stops and no beer, we had to wait for the beautiful river view to enjoy our beers and ginger tea. Worth the wait!
We couldn’t unpack the bags fast enough to get out the water shoes for the kids. They ran for the river and the dam.
These next few frames tell a story. The kids were trying to cross the river at the dam. It was flowing faster than in past years…
Eleri had a idea, so she went back along the dam…
to get this really BIG bamboo stick…
Then, she got the big boys to put her plan into action…
It worked as the big stick gave the kids something to hang onto as they crossed the dam.
Now, they could get to the other side without falling in the river to explore!
All the kids find a bamboo stick. A stick is VERY important for their time playing in the river. Each night they tuck their sticks away for the next day.
The bamboo stick is used for digging out seaweed – a river activity!
We don’t know what this sign says, but we joked it says to stay off the dam!
When the kids need a break from the river since it is a bit cold, they play in the grass area. This is one of my favorite memories of our time in Yangshuo. The kids are unplugged and having fun together. The range in ages of our gang of kids is Danielle the oldest as a Freshman (14) to Eleri the youngest as a 4th grader (9). They all play together making up games.
Or have a bamboo stick fight with the VERY big kid, Scott…
The adults watch the entertainment of the kids on the dam while drinking beer and ginger tea watching the sunset. Jim was on a work call all afternoon. Lisa and Dan took afternoon naps after their long nights with food poison!
We enjoyed a glass of wine and snacks on our deck before our Thanksgiving dinner.
Thanksgiving celebration started in front of the fireplace with appetizers/snacks and wine we brought from Shanghai.
Judy had American crackers and American cheese as a special treat for us. The smile on Mark’s face is for the simple joy of crackers and cheese!
Thanksgiving dinner was two tables – a kids table and an adult table – just the way we like it!
Dinner started with pumpkin soup. It was fine, but needed some spice!
The next course was mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing and jelly (not sure why – TIC). The mashed potatoes were as bad as they look – soupy and sticky!
Second course was the turkey which was very good. It also included a side of beans and gravy.
The final course was cheesecake…that was still a bit frozen. No worries as I had all the fixings to make smores. Our Aussie family had never had a smore. This is Josh enjoying his first smore at the age of 14!
Eleri loves smores – nothing like a roasted marshmallow!
Friday, Day Two Adventure
After breakfast, we began the day at 9am with rock climbing. We climb with Insight Adventures which does many of the Concordia trips. We asked for a different rock this year. They took us to the rock called Baby Frog Rock. The Moms and Scott were sitting this climb out, therefore, we had 10 kids and 3 adults climbing.
There were five ropes set up for the crew of climbers. Eleri was one of the first climbers of the day.
This little ledge, not too far off the ground, later became known as Gandy Ledge. When Mark climbed, he only made it to this ledge!
Eleri climbed higher than Gandy Ledge, but not far. The rock was really cold and hard to grab.
Emersyn ready to climb!
Close to the top, Emersyn fell off the rock. It is a bit scary swinging, but she found her footing and continued.
Emersyn made it to the top. She only climbed this one climb.
The kids resting between climbs.
Eleri climbed one more time as she is our little monkey. She was waiting for the rock to warm up, but this rock wasn’t in the sun.
Eleri at the top with a big smile! This is the first time she has ever made it to the top of a climb.
Jim climbed every climb more than once!
The rock climbing Gang!
Sights of Yangshuo near the Baby Frog Rock. Walking the cows home…
Clothes and rice drying in the sun…
This little, old lady with no teeth is outside the Mountain Retreat each year. I buy flowers from her each time for 5rmb. I alway give her more.
This is what happen when you get teenagers up before 8am…
We talked about rafting, but decided to wait until tomorrow. Nick, our Aussie climb guide, join us for lunch and ONE beer. FORTY large beers later and many laughs, he left the crazy Americans. Mark and Scott are the entertainers of the group…get them together and we were laughing all afternoon.
More water fun for the kids after naps and lunch.
Judy ordered an hour foot massages for the ladies! A perfect after lunch treat! The boys were giving us a bad time, but they ALL went back to the rooms for an afternoon nap after too many beers.
The girls grabbed a half hour foot massages when the ladies finished!
We had dinner reservations at Luna at the Village Guest house. We loaded the vans for the short ride to the Guest House. The kids ran for THEIR trees. The old crew has trees they have claimed and have named their trees. We left them in the courtyard to play in the trees.
Dinner at Luna’s was excellent. We drank three bottles of wine for dinner as there were too many beers at lunch. Our bill was only 600rmb per family – considerably less than past years due to less bottles of wine.
Saturday, Day Three Adventure
The day started with a slow, relaxing breakfast.
Then, it was off for a biking adventure – all 20 people! It took time to find bikes for this crew. We didn’t get far when we had to pull over to take a photo of the water buffalo on the side of road.
And, the life size ladies for a car race the next weekend.
Now, for the adventure to begin on the road to the Dragon Bridge.
We crossed a dam where the locals were working at moving stones and rocks…
Through the countryside…
Up and over the next dam…
Walking bikes along the dam…
Through the villages…
Finally, we reached the Dragon bridge…
I really don’t know how Jim remembers the way as we would all be lost without him. We were looking for a place to eat when I recognized the door to the lunch spot we ate the very first time with the Humes. I remember the door because we walked through a house walkway to get there. Sure enough, on the other side was the restaurant.
We still had to get home. The gang climbed onto their bikes to begin the trek back to the hotel. We have 18 bikes on the road – we are an interesting crew! Jim and Eleri along with Scott and Sophie are on tandem bikes.
We took a more direct way home with a few less dams to cross.
We had a few bike repairs along the road. Jim kept losing the chain on his bike and Scott’s handle bars needed to be tighten. By the time we crossed the bumpy roads, Scott was holding the bars up.
As we were getting closer to home, Sophie asked Scott why it took so much longer to get to the bridge this year. His reply…we have the Moms! The past two bikes trips have been Dads and Kids while the Moms shopped.
Upon return of our ALL day bike ride, it was time to relax at the tables by the river. A little wine with the last of the cheese and crackers was well earned.
After afternoon drinks, we moved to the fire place. It was Mark’s birthday – turning 46. Lisa arranged an apple pie (the best option) for a surprise. The hotel gave it to us free of charge! We sang him happy birthday to enjoy our pie before dinner!
On Thursday, we had to share the fire place space, but tonight we took it over early. We had our dinner at the fire. Mark and Jim kept the fire roaring. Mark and Scott kept the crew roaring with laughter! I really can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard for so long!
Then, it was time for smores!
Sunday, Day Four Adventure
Yesterday, we arrived back too late from biking for the rafting adventure. Both new families wanted to experience the rafting. A few takers were going first thing in the morning to enjoy the calm river morning. Eleri was in, but sleep was more important for Emersyn. When the group arrived at the rafts, they made the kids ride with the adults. The experienced crew wasn’t there to tell them NO! They still enjoy the peaceful ride down the river. It is just more fun with a friend.
Before leaving, we took a few family photos as we have NONE for the year. I always put a family photo on our Christmas card, but not this year!
Another fabulous Thanksgiving in Yangshuo. Before we leave, we always think this will be the last one…but, then we get here to have so much fun! It was a very fun group of friends to share Thanksgiving – thankful for the amazing friends we have made in Shanghai…even if most of them are from Michigan!