The day didn't start too well with news that Alan had indeed fractured his collarbone from his crash 2 days back and was now unable to ride for at least a month thus becoming a bus passenger in our support vehicle.
The daily grind of getting started again comprising a hot cup of tea delivered to your tent followed by a small bowl of hot water to wash in ( read shower) before a breakfast of porridge toast and omelette - not hugely appetizing but enough to get you on the way !
Having hot the road the group soon broke up- partly related to climbing ability but also related to an individuals tolerance or intolerance to the increased altitude.
Views were stunning as we rode many switchbacks on a pretty good bitumen road climbing 33 kms to the Baralacha pass at 4,950 metes !
The altitude was affecting me quite prominently with any gradient over 3 % slowing me down to just over snails pace.
Assisted by Danish rider Michael who dropped back, I plodded along stopping many times to drink water to combat the hydration issue at altitude.
Our group all reached the pass although i reckon I only had about 50 metres of climbing left in me feeling pretty spent.
Our 10 km descent to lunch was technical in nature going from rough pieces of bitument to dirt and rock and even through a couple of fast flowing streams coming down from the mountains that required a full on run up or a swim in the ice cold water.
Having rested after our gigantic climb it was a further 20 kms to camp again on technical roads but this time traveling along a valley with some absolutely amazing scenery from rock geology and its colors accentuated by the sun - this was a cycling spectacle at its best !.
We reached camp and were given the option of staying in a so called luxury tent arrangement for tonight and our rest day tomorrow - luxury equating to an actual bed and a very basic nearly outdoor toilet / bathroom !
The night was spent with our head guide Raju and a few of the support team playing and singing local Indian songs !.
Judging by the difficulty of riding up even the slightest incline after coming off the mountain I'm praying for some improved acclimatization and the removal of the 40 or so litres of lactic caused by the days pretty tough work !
Roll on Leh !
Good to see you back on board Litchfield and obviously having gangs of fun coping with the mud , rocks , rain ,cold and altitude etc etc . I was getting misty eyed wishing i was there with you , that didn't last long . Makes Tibet look like a stroll in the park but the scenery looks spectacular , a bit like Tibet in places .
ReplyDeleteBreakfast sounds as yummy as Tibet and with lollies in short supply you should get rid of your BFG easily . Had a chance to show off your BA / LA skills to the others yet . All well back home , weather in low 20's all this week , that's at sea level too .
Ride safe , no heroics , your crashing skills are nowhere near my level and you'll hurt yourself , unlike mwa . H