DAY 59 (Saturday 17 September 2011)

Well poor Charlie didn’t make it out for the ride this morning, he wasn’t feel too good, so he just stayed at home.  We did head for KAKANI today, so that made a difference; even though it is Saturday there was still a fair bit of traffic out on the roads, even at 0645hrs.  On our way through town we managed to not lose anyone and we more or less stuck together, but when we finally made it to the quiet of the road that we wanted to be on, that’s when everyone got into their own rhythm of pace, me as usual was at the back, well come on this road was a constant climb up, but once you get in the gear you need you just keep your pace going, however, for me, I wasn’t alone at the back for long as BK, the RAO and a couple of the Gurkhas, (I think one of them is known as PK) always came back to see how I was getting on, to get to where we were going I noticed that there were a some signs, just like town ones in the UK, one was called MUDKA and the other TINPIPPLE, if these were showing you little villages, let me just tell you, that the only buildings I saw were dotted around and not grouped together.

The scenery today was blanketed by a bit of mist, me personally, I think it was the clouds as we were constantly climbing, (hence no photos) but the good thing that came out of this constant climb was knowing that I was going back the way we came so downhill would be quicker and less taxing, but you had to watch out for the lorries, as they wouldn’t think twice about NOT getting out of your way, at the end of the day I suppose they were bigger than me.

When we had our tea break and headed back to town, we had just come across a road and going up very tight side street, that it is virtually impossible to have to vehicles go past side by side, anyway, someone (who wasn’t in our group) came tear arsing down the road passed us lot, but then slammed on his brakes, all I saw, was the bike go past, back wheel come up and the feet come up and over, he must have been putting on a brave face when we stopped to see if he was alright as he must have hit the ground with some force, anyway, to be honest it’s one of those moments that you wished you had a video camera so you could send it to one of those TV shows that airs video clips.

We left the bloke as his friend was with him, and carried on so that we could get home, after riding down the ring road we were to turn left, and I am not joking you, even though the hill was short and sharp, it was steep too, not right at the beginning, but half way up it just suddenly went up, well I must admit I mentally hit a brick wall, I just couldn’t get up it, so I am ashamed to say that I had to get off and push.

When we got back to camp, the boys washed down all the bikes at the jet wash (it was working properly this time) then it was home for a shower and something to eat.  However, when I got back I found Charlie to be dressed in the most clothes I have seen him in since we got here as he was feeling cold, trust me when I say, that it has not been cold since we got here and it’s still another couple of months or so before it should be getting cold.  Needless to say, he must be seriously not well if he has got that much clothing on.

Can’t believe that I got called over to the Mess to sort out the accommodation bookings, the Mess if you will is in a mess at the moment, rooms have had to be blocked off due to circumstances beyond the Mess Staff’s control, water leaks and damp carpets, but I can’t believe that I have just had to go and change people round in the accommodation, surely that is the Mess Manager’s job????

Anyway, that was it for my day, nothing much to tell.  I doubt we will be going out in a group as such next week as it’s the KATHMANDU Marathon and I am going to follow Nicky round on my bike as I am her water girl.   I may speak of tomorrow, but as nothing is planned it could be a quiet Sunday for a change.

DAY 58 (Friday 16 September 2011)

Lie in, ppfft, no chance the electric kept tripping, it started (that I was aware from) at 0500hrs this morning, tried, tried so hard to go back to sleep because I still had 2 hours before my alarm was due to go off, but no such luck, just laid there then decided to get up and do my normal morning things before heading off to work.

Can’t believe when I got into work that I wasn’t able to do much to start with as they computer geeks did an upgrade last night, but for whatever reason, non of our drives were available, such a shame, no work to be done for the next few hours, at least hope not, could do with a break from all the programmes and amendments that I have been doing over the past week.

At least I hade email, but that is only good when people that are in the UK are in work, I had to wait until after lunch before I could have any outside communication.

BK came to see me today to make sure that we were cycling this week as it has moved to Saturday, so it looks like we are going to head towards KAKANI (at last).  Just hope he doesn’t think we are going to bike all the way there as it takes about 1½ hours in a vehicle.  We shall see, at least I have my padded shorts and now I have my camelbak, so no stopping for me to take on water, probably stop just because I am knackered.

DAY 57 (Thursday 15 September 2011)

So far the only thing that really is worth mentioning is that 'woohoo' I stood on the scales in the gym and the weight is definitely coming off, so happy that all my hard work in the gym, swimming pool and out on the bikes up and down those bloody hills is finally paying off.

Lie in day tomorrow, no PT or swimming to get up for so my alarm will be well and truly set for 0700hrs.

DAY 56 (Wednesday 14 September 2011)

Today, what happened today, ah yes Marion is what happened today, she was out and about selling raffle tickets for the Big Brew that we are holding on a week on Friday, she managed to get me to buy 10 tickets, so at least I have 10 chances of winning, but knowing my luck it won’t happen.  There are supposed to be some pretty good prizes for the main raffle, spa treatments, return flights to Pokhara, meals out in different restaurants and hotels, etc.  However, we shall see next Friday, but I am not holding my breath.

DAY 55 (Tuesday 13 September 2011)

Swimming day to day, it was supposed to have been last week, but BK had other plans.  Again who knew you could sweat in a swimming pool.

It was a tough session but also a fun one, at one point in the pool we were split down into three groups, one group had to ‘skull’ for those that don’t know, that is lifting your feet off the bottom of the pool in a sitting position and just using your arms to move you around the water, the second group had to step into the water (no diving) swim to the other side of the pool (widths) then climb out without using the grab bar and do that all over again and finally group 3 had to hold on to each other’s shoulders to form a circle then go in a circle one way then change direction and go the other way, it was a bit like playing ‘Ring A Ring A Roses’, there was just no falling down.  Capt Fox didn’t work too hard on that one as she just lifted her legs and got carried round (wished I thought of that), I just ended up hopping around so that me feet weren’t stood on by the person next to me.

After swimming it was home, shower, breakfast and back to work.  That was it for the day, other than the normal working day that is.

DAY 54 (Monday 12 September 2011)

No news to report today.

DAY 53 (Sunday 11 September 2011)

Well as per the norm with anything to do with the Army it was all change again as to where we were riding to, instead of biking towards KAKANI as planned it has been changed to the route that I have now done for the past 2 weeks, however, I must be getting better as I have managed to get up the hills in question without getting off, OK well maybe not all the hills, only one that beat me this week.  I must be getting better though as we actually got back in quicker time than last week and it still included a stop at the tea house.

One of our local Tea Houses



KAKANI is now supposed to be getting done next week as BK said that it would be safer to try and ride up there on there on a Saturday as there is actually less traffic on the roads on that one day, it seems to be a day off for some people but not all.  We shall see.

We were actually dirtier this week than the past 2 weeks as the rain came down with such abundance that when we going down one part of the track through a little living area, they were blocking off vehicles (except bikes) as it was just churning up the track, bless the locals they were trying to sort it by putting rocks and stones on the track to have some sort of way to get through without becoming completely filthy themselves.

Me a little dirtier than last time

Well as we tried to bike through, the muck was that churned up that Charlie was doing his hardest not to fall into the ditch at the side of the track as he tried to make his way through, he nearly became a cropper but managed not to do it, however, the majority of us ended up having to walk our bikes through, no matter how hard we tried to pedal through we lost the battle.

As you can see from the picture below, my bike was actually muddier than the first day we did the route.

After again trying to get the bikes washed down, (the jet wash didn’t really want to play this week), it was a quick goodbye to everyone so that we could go home and have some food.

 Charlie washing his bike down at the jet wash