I woke up way too early today, but decided to just get ready instead of trying to fall back asleep.
Got my gear on and packed up the misc. stuff and then went to get some tea, only to find I was locked in the tent. The doors latch from the outside and cannot be opened from the inside if that happens.
Andy had left earlier and latched the door, trapping me inside!
After a few minutes of not seeing anyone outside, I tried to remove the bolts holding the latch on and while the nuts came off, the bolts were too tight in the wood door to slide out. I tried to jerk the door hard a few times, but no movement.
However, a guy loading a car outside about then heard and came over to open the latch on the outside of the door.
Finally got over for my tea and also had some breakfast. Then retrieved bag from tent and dropped it off at the truck to be loaded. I then loaded up the bike and was ready for the ride back to Leh now.
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| Moring at Pangong Tso |
The return trip retraced the route exactly, so nothing new road wise to see. We left early enough to avoid the worst of the traffic, just the usual taxi's/trucks and a few military convoy's (I think these occur daily). Weather was nice today, so no issues with going over Changla pass again.
Made good time back to Leh with very few stops, we were all just tired and ready to get off the bikes I think.
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| Over the pass and on the way down to Leh |
Once back at the hotel I sat in the lobby a bit and then got a key for a room and cleaned up. Had a room to myself again tonight. Thankfully the truck with the bags had also made good time and was onsite, so was able to change into my camp clothes to be more comfortable.
Spent the next hour repacking and getting bags ready for the flight back to Delhi tomorrow. Sadly the new bag I had bought was not as big as I had hoped, so still needed to fill the backpack with a few things, but it was big enough to get the boots in , so will be able to wear my shoes on the plane now instead of the boots.
When done, I went down to the lobby again to do some online stuff and talk with any of the guys, though most were still in rooms and a few that had not gone to the lake were out riding for a last bit of fun before they picked up the bikes later tonight.
I returned to my room about 3:00 p.m. and laid down for a nap. Dinner for the whole group was going to be at a local restaurant and we would head out from the lobby about 6:30 p.m., so was able to get a good rest in before that.
Around 6:00 p.m. I went down and hung out in the lobby while everyone slowly trickled in. We then walked over to that nice pizza place we had been to a few days earlier - La Pizzaretta.
Rahul, the tour leader, was treating the entire group and crew for the tour ending/farewell dinner. We all got seated and ordered drinks and food and then talked in our smaller groups as the night went on.
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| Final night farewell dinner. |
A few would get up and move to different tables, and a few would stand and address the group as a whole, like Milos who had collected a tip kitty again to give to the remaining support crew. I again gave 1000 rupee to that collection.
Also ended up having a conversation with a woman sitting alone at the next table section (we sat on the ground here at a low table, and each table group had a low wall around it) which was next to me.
Do not recall exactly how the conversation started, but had noticed her watching the group most of the evening (probably because we were a bit loud trying to be heard over the 2 table groups).
She was from Israel and over in India seeing the sights in the Ladakh area. She also was near the end of her trip, leaving the day after our group would leave.
Once dinner was over, we came back to the hotel and I spent some time booking an excursion for Thursday the 23rd that Andy and I would take.
Once done with that, had a few small conversations with the others, then went to my room to write the days journal. Will be up at 7:00 a.m. again, mainly so I can have time to get breakfast and then will check out of room and just sit in the lobby till the taxi comes at 10:00 a.m. to take me to the airport. (I had put in the order for a taxi the day before).
Just hope things goes smoothly at the airport, could not get the web check-in process to work on my phone, so not sure if that will be a problem when I arrive or not.
This was a wonderful adventure and experience and I had a lot of fun, even during the more trying moments. I am physically wore out, body hurts in many places, but few more days to go on the trip, though no more motorcycle riding or really hard stuff now. Will soon be back down in the lower altitudes and warm weather of Delhi!
Good night.
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| Ride Route (147km/91 miles) |
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