Weds Oct 25 - 2006
5000m to 4200m
83kms Riding Time 5hours:32mins
Frost lined the walls of the tent, and my contacts were frozen solid in their case. Pema had lied, it hit -27 last night.
The ride today was gonna be a battle, mainly to get started. Only four of us (nick, michel, chris, and I) are doing the first 17k, where upon terry mark and andres will join up, and the rest of the group will meet at lunch at about 42k.
It was FREEZING. My toes were numb, my fingers numb, my eyes watering and freezing tears. The 17k was downhill on the washboard, and we ripped it as fast as we could to get it done. We turned away at 17k, and up towards the pass. Its a beautiful valley, one of the nicest Ive seen ever. We passed the bus and truck a few times, and some of the kids in one village were ultra aggressive, even throwing stones at Chris. Thats not to say all kids are like that, but some believe now that foreigners=money/candy/pens.
Today Tibet really showed off for us though.. the bright sky, such a deep deep blue , the contrast with teh gray and brown of the lifeless hills, with the white capped glaciated peaks in the background forming the Himalaya. We all cruised to lunch, where a group of nomads sat near us and watched with interest, then feasted after on leftovers.
The afternoon ride was just....awesome. Crazy downhill to start where we hit 55kph on gravel/rock, then singletrack along a cliff edge. SO good, I dont even know how to explain it properly. The group even rode all together today, 13 riders, which doesnt happen often. One creek crossing was pretty tough, shoes/socks off wade across. A moron landcruiser slammed through the crossing just after us, as Michel was still putting his socks back on, and the water flooded his gloves that were on the side. He yelled at the guy, then kicked the back of his truck. The Chinese driver stopped, got out, looked at it, and then slowly, deliberately, picked his nose. Not a word spoken.
After reaching the town of Tingri we were thrown back in time again. A wild feel to the town again. Mark, Terry and I all stopped in a local joint/house for a coke. The last 10k or so was easy going, but everyones tired out, especially the few of us who rode the whole day. We barely made it before dinnertime, early sleep tonight holding my chronically cramped left hand. Even had heart pains today (prob just chest or muscle), and Oreo made me wear a moniter to watch it. Nothing serious, but maybe the altitude and long days of exertion are wearing on me. The summits of Everest and Cho Oyu were in view tonight, lit up with the Alpen glow.
5000m to 4200m
83kms Riding Time 5hours:32mins
Frost lined the walls of the tent, and my contacts were frozen solid in their case. Pema had lied, it hit -27 last night.The ride today was gonna be a battle, mainly to get started. Only four of us (nick, michel, chris, and I) are doing the first 17k, where upon terry mark and andres will join up, and the rest of the group will meet at lunch at about 42k.
It was FREEZING. My toes were numb, my fingers numb, my eyes watering and freezing tears. The 17k was downhill on the washboard, and we ripped it as fast as we could to get it done. We turned away at 17k, and up towards the pass. Its a beautiful valley, one of the nicest Ive seen ever. We passed the bus and truck a few times, and some of the kids in one village were ultra aggressive, even throwing stones at Chris. Thats not to say all kids are like that, but some believe now that foreigners=money/candy/pens.
Today Tibet really showed off for us though.. the bright sky, such a deep deep blue , the contrast with teh gray and brown of the lifeless hills, with the white capped glaciated peaks in the background forming the Himalaya. We all cruised to lunch, where a group of nomads sat near us and watched with interest, then feasted after on leftovers.The afternoon ride was just....awesome. Crazy downhill to start where we hit 55kph on gravel/rock, then singletrack along a cliff edge. SO good, I dont even know how to explain it properly. The group even rode all together today, 13 riders, which doesnt happen often. One creek crossing was pretty tough, shoes/socks off wade across. A moron landcruiser slammed through the crossing just after us, as Michel was still putting his socks back on, and the water flooded his gloves that were on the side. He yelled at the guy, then kicked the back of his truck. The Chinese driver stopped, got out, looked at it, and then slowly, deliberately, picked his nose. Not a word spoken.
After reaching the town of Tingri we were thrown back in time again. A wild feel to the town again. Mark, Terry and I all stopped in a local joint/house for a coke. The last 10k or so was easy going, but everyones tired out, especially the few of us who rode the whole day. We barely made it before dinnertime, early sleep tonight holding my chronically cramped left hand. Even had heart pains today (prob just chest or muscle), and Oreo made me wear a moniter to watch it. Nothing serious, but maybe the altitude and long days of exertion are wearing on me. The summits of Everest and Cho Oyu were in view tonight, lit up with the Alpen glow.
Photo Captions:
Top Left: Last goodbye, sunrise on Everest
Top Right: Yak
Pic 3: Group on the Pass' Summit, with random trader in there too.
Pic 4: Ullrich
Pic 5: Road ahead to Tingri
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