Category: Blog 2017

We have started the long journey to get home – today 13 hours in a small bus to Lhasa. Challenging drive as lots of snow in the mountain passes, and strict rules about the speed the car can go, including a lot of radar cameras. We said goodbye to Everest at a viewpoint. Waved to the farmers, yaks, sheep, goats, dogs, horses and donkeys. The Tibetan people are inspiring, they have been curious about us, welcoming and kind. The opportunity to learn about their culture and Buddhism has been extraordinary…….

Continue reading “Epilogue”

What a final ride. We went up and over again to end up in the town of Tingri, known for their hot springs though we were all too shattered to partake. If the border had been open we would have started the many thousand meter descent to Kathmandu. But the border is not open so from Tingri we will bus back to Lhasa.

Continue reading “Final pass, cause why not?”

What a day! Oh my – what a day!

We woke to clear skies and moved with pace and urgency in order to get to Everest Base Camp before the clouds came in. 8km ride in, half paved and half gravel. 250m elevation gained.

Continue reading “Her Majesty Chomolangma”

We almost saw Everest. We cycled up to Rongbuk. Unfortunately Everest isn’t on our agenda. She’s playing coy. While in Rongbuk waiting for her to show herself we visited the Rong La monastery. We had our prayer beads blessed. We also hung out in the small hotel and had ginger, lemon, honey tea. Met some travellers from Brazil on a tour (also disappointed at not seeing Everest).

Continue reading “Almost”

Nice easy morning wake-up. Cowboy coffee, porridge and eggs. Got on our bikes around 915. Our rest day involved 22km, 350m elevation gained, 1000 calories burned…….crazy thing is it did feel like a rest day!!!

We made our way through a few small towns. Desperate to get a video off for the blog we stopped at a small lodge in one of the towns and used their Wifi. As payback we bartered over the price of some Everest buffs.

Continue reading “Soft landing”

Some call it a billion dollar road. We just called it a B#%^*!?

43 switchbacks to get to the top!

70km total ride
Max speed 69.7 (Dave)
Calories 2673
Average 13kph
Descended 1159m
Ascending 914m
Highest navigable road in the world. Peak altitude 5205m
Camp altitude 4252m

Continue reading “Pang La Pass”

Last night knowing there was a rest day we got jiving pretty well in our food tent.

Continue reading “Rest day in Shregar”

What an interesting night. I was using the throne tent when I heard some unusual noises and then a lot of barking. Turns out the bull was coming to visit the throne and the dogs that joined us in camp chased him away (thank god). We had 5 adults and 4 puppies around camp last night. A couple of major barking episodes, no doubt saving us from something.

Continue reading “Gyatso La pass”

Today’s stats:

Cal burnt 2700

Continue reading “Put your hands in the air”

The day started with Perry having red eye and Dale losing his Yak bells. Dorje and Perry went to drugstore and back to market to buy another set of bells (I so want to spell that differently). The rest of us hit the road. Within the first 10 clicks Dave had two flat tires! Later during the ride metal wire took out my bike computer.

Continue reading “Mishap, misadventure and malady”