Day 10 - Spangmik to Leh. Unfortunately by the same route as the outward journey 120km

Our accommodation by the Lake

Little furry things

The road was cut through the alluvial deposits

This sign was on the entry to the town and the military base was about 1 mile away and nothing else was around.  Only one place for a 'run ashore' and they were not allowed to go there.  I imagine that would lead to quite a few disgruntled soldiers.

Water and Roadworks or waterlogged construction

Day 9 - Leh to Spangmik. It was cold enough to 'freeze the balls of a brass monkey' Google will tell you the origins of that saying 120km

A quick drink for Misty.  She had quite a climb today to Chang Pass at 5,400m.

The hotel in Leh

Pangong Lake that is bisected by the Indian and Chinese border.  Both countries have naval patrols and it is the highest salt water lake in the world at 4400m.  The ladies bar Vlasta went by car today.

It was bloody chilly but good for a quick wash.

Ducks and Drakes!

It was a little on the chilly side

Day 8 - Leh a rest day visiting local ruins and a monastery

Thiksey Monastery, Ladakh

The head of the monastery has a vision whereby he is told in which house the next monk will be found.  The story goes something like that

Thiksey again

and again

me getting all floral

A well kept and beautiful palace.  The next palace had its walls absolutely covered in graffiti.  There are stupid people all over the world.

I get anyone to pose with me in a photo

I liked the little sign :-

Rules for machines

Manners for humans

Don't throw garbage

Day 7 - Sarchu to Leh and fun on the plains 290km

The start of More Plains where Anand to put me off going since Misty was not best in sand and it was very easy to get lost.  Fortunately did not fall off or get lost and it was great fun.

Our well spread out convoy.

At the top Tanglang-La there was snow on the ground and icicles.  Karna and Sandy had never seen snow so they stopped just so they could touch it :)

From here I tried a steep uphill shortcut.  Misty can handle shortcuts if downhill but if uphill she has less power that a Puch Maxi.  Got about 30 metres up ran at of power put on the brakes and slid all the way back down where I dropped misty and ended up puffing like an old man as I tried to right her.  At over 4000m everything is hard work.

Thankfully a friendly yak.

The Himalayan that I wish I had been riding

If you go to the 12 minute point on this video you can see where I decided against Rashi's
gesticulating to take an uphill shortcut.  I failed.

That night we road into Leh the capital of the Ladakh Region of India.  We were in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Day 6 - Tandi to Sarchu and the Jumping Misty 120 km

One of a number of crashed vehicles we saw throughout the trip.  Most were in valley bottoms.

I think this is where I tasted my first Maggi which is a bit like Pot Noodle and made the same way by adding boiling water and tastes just as bad.  For some inexplicable reason it seems to be well liked in India.  They are such wonderful flavours in the form of freshly cooked curries so why eat something that is bland and full of chemicals?

Looking down into the valley from the plain where we were having donutting and jumping fun

Who said 'Bullets Can't Jump'

The tented camp at Sarchu