Thursday, April 9, 2009

Day 30 - April 7 - Mangor - Lhuentse - Tashigang

April07 at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

Around 240 KMs...

Today for the first time in Bhutan i got going by 7 am. In fact this is the best time to ride as the skies are clear. Get out of Mangor and back track till i get the deviation to Lhuentse. Lil worried about landslide happening and worse when i am on the other side as this is the only road in and out of Lheuntse. Afer a few kms are good roads then its the Landslide territory. Looks like new ly repaired road, made of nothing but mud. Carefully cross the wet section and see that Lheuntse is 50 kms more. Now i just hope that no landslides would block my return. It was a very good ride with narrow roads going between greenery and cliff walls. Ride slowly and take many breaks for photos, and when there is wide open spaces. Took like 2.5 hours to get there. Nothing much to see there but the Zongh. Climb up to the zongh leaving the bag on the bike it self. As i climb up and then look down, there is a crowd checking out my bike. Just hoped all the stuff is still on the bike on my return. It was quite a climb again collecting some sweat in my riding gear. Get inside the zongh, but to get to the main parts i have to wait for a guy to show up who will give me a tour. Did not have patience to wait and went back down to the bike and the bike and things were fine.

10.30 i start back to mangor. On the way saw a narrow metal walk bridge across the river and saw a bike cross it. Hmmm... well i gotta give it a try now. Did it and even managed to get couple of pix on the walk bridge. On the other side is the path towards a village, just chiseled out on the mountain. Went offroad a couple of KMs but then as the path got soft, reluctantly i turned back to the main road after cross the metal walk bridge. On the way saw another narrower walk bridge across the river which was much higher. As i was thinking whether to walk on that, i see 2 kids and old lady do jay walk to cross the bridge.! Man now i gotta try it. It was amazing up the bridge looking at the gushing river under the feet at a height. It used to wave according to the wind. Suddenly i feel the bridge go up and down too much for my comfort. Later saw that it was just a couple of people walking on the bridge that caused the bridge to go up and down making me feel sick. Later realized that it was cos of people walking. Brave again on the bridge to take some pix and reach Mangor by 1pm. Nothing much to do in the day but get myself to Tashigang. This was lil easior ride with wide roads giving possibility of occasional speed bursts. The roads climbs down down and down for quite some time that i was afraid that i would reach below sea level! Just for fun, killed the engine and went down in neutral for quite a few KMS. Even took a VDO.

Soon was at the water level and crossed a bridge for a climb to Tashigang. Just after permit entry process it starts raining. Man it was irritating. Just a hand full of KMs and i have to get into the rain gear. Have no choice and so i wear it. Just as i ride ahead a bit rain stops! Any way get into Druk hotel at Tashigang. The internet facilities around the town are very slow and expensive at 2 Rs per minute!

Now the situation for tomm is that i have to leave the country and enter India as i am running out of money and infact i wont have money to support myself here for one more day. All this because Indian back account's international debit card does not work in Bhutan. And there is this blast thingy at Guvahati. Talk to my friend Pinaki, who belongs to Guvahati and i am invited to stay at his home. So Govahati it is tomm.

Morning at sleepy town of Mangor


The early morning valley view was fantastic...





The landslide section on the Lhuentse road. Since this road is not in transit, Landslide if happens clearing will take time!!



Nice ride after the doubtful path...







The Lhuentse Zongh high above...


Getting closer...


Now the hard climb...


Had left the back pack on the bike and from above i see these people checking out my bike. Hope the things are there when i come back...


View of the valley from the Zongh..


Getting inside...


In the court yard...



Old broken bridge...


No i will take the new one...


Bike on the foot bridge!!!


Proper offroading on the edge the other side...





Get back to the main road...


Cross the doubtful section...


Another walk bridge and these ppl jay walked on it!


I did it i crossed it...


Scary looking down...


Crazy height and current...


yup i am freaking out....


The river view from the bridge...




The family that lived across the bridge. Their village is a two hour walk from the other side of the bridge.


At KoriLa,


Height there...


Environment changes heading down to Tashigang...



Narrow roads but super wide switchbacks!




was really tempted to go down the dirt track to the water. The ramp was too soft and turned back after the first switch back and that itself was a clutch burner. Good that i dropped the idea and later would have been stuck in rain as well..

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