Day 113. Mandi - Manali

Another day much like yesterday, gorgeous scenery and roads to die on. Overnight there had been heavy rain which makes the roads quite treacherous, much roadworks and many potholes make for slow going once again. It’s not too bad when the scenery is as good as this.  

Mist rising. ( couldn’t stop to take a better photo😫 photos not allowed near the dam, this one’s a sneaky one) 

This temple was across the gorge, to get to it they had a flying fox arrangement, and then the long walk up the hill. 

Mist rising down the river.

At one of the many road works we were held up by what looked like a truck wanting to do a U turn, what he actually did was turn across the road then back to the Armco railing which he hit with a hell of a bang and put a massive dent in it, then up went the tray and load of slip debris went into the river below.

We entered a long tunnel, there was no warning it was coming as we entered on a right angled corner, I had my sunnies on but there was reasonable lighting so I just peered over the top, as we went further the diesel smog was very thick making the oncoming lights quite dim, I slowed as this set approached me and then out of the gloom another set appeared right in front of me, a local bus was coming right at us overtaking a truck, nowhere to go and no time I just pulled to left as far as I could, shut my eyes and prayed it would be over quickly, I have no idea how he missed us but he did. 

Shortly after this we had a similar experience this time in the open with an overtaking truck, we were doing about 80 this time and only inches from oblivion, he basically allowed me the white line to ride on. 

I must admit that this left me fairly angry, I understand this is just normal behaviour and it’s not personal but if I could have got my hands on either of those two they would be bloody sorry. 

These experiences prompted me to google the road toll here, they lead the world at 147000 per annum, no wonder.

Anyway we have arrived safely at the resort town of Manali, which is a big tourist town, full of hotels and a lovely mall area full of shops and happy holidaymakers. 

We went for a walk and visited a wooden temple basically built around a large rock, build in 1554. Inside was a pujari who invited us to crouch down and view the goddess’ footprints, she must have been a big girl, funnily enough there was a collection tray under the footprints where a donation could be made, I rummaged around only to discover I had left my wallet in the hotel, Robyn rummaged in her bag and found some indeterminate currency so they now have some fx. 

The amount of water lying around is making life on the roads a challenge and as I write this it is pouring down again, so I think we will abandon plans for the Rohtang pass and Spiti valley, it would be hard enough jockeying for position with the hundreds of  4wd’s that take tourists up and back every day without the added drama of slippery mud and river crossings. We are a bit gutted about this but we feel this would be a step too far especially as we are on our own two up.