LHASA TO KATMANDU ON MOUNTAIN BIKES!

 
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Tuesday 15 September
 
  RONGBUK TO TINGRI

Total distance cycled: 73 kms

Morning altitude: 5000 meters (16,400 feet)

Highest altitude: 5200 meters (17,060 feet)

Evening altitude: 5000 meters (16,400 feet)

Today was by far the most technical mountain biking we have done, as we took a dusty goat track from the Everest Base Camp back down the road to the main Friendship Highway. Because we were going way off road, we had no van support, so had to carry food, water, tools, and a first aid get to get us through the day. We also had several members of the group who elected not to go on the big adventure. Jocelyn took the day off and rode to Tingri in the van, which freed up her bike so the cook rode along with us today. Jean Pierre and Annie took the van back over the Pang La to the highway, and rode the main rode in to Tingri. So there was five of us to tempt the epic ride, and Didier and I are the only ones still EFI.

We tried to leave a half hour early today, but somehow couldn't get it together so left at our usual time. There was frost on the windows and Everest was completely in the clouds when we headed out. The cook had obviously never ridden a bike with gears before, and it took a long time for him to figure it out, despite our best attempts at explaining and pantoming. The ride was absolutely magnificent, over an extremely remote 5200 meter pass. For the first time wer were far away from any civilization--only an occaisional sheperd's tent as a sign of human life. It was truly an epic ride, and the best day we have had yet. We all stuck together all day for safety reasons. After the pass, we had a very nice tailwind to blow us back to the main road. That same wind will surely hurt us tomorrow.

Tonight we are in a horribly depressing little town. It has on main street with trash and rubble everywhere, packs of wild dogs running around, and dust covers everything. Our guest house if equally depressing. I have a dirty, dingy, closet-sized room that is damp and smelly. Pit toilet, no running water, on dim bulb on the ceiling. But we are nearing the end!

Pics below, left column, then right: various scenes from the rode, including a yak resuppy train that we passed, headed for the shepard's tents, and the awful town of Tingri.