Day 122. Namai - Pokhara

We got up early and packed  the bike , we had organised breakfast for 7 so we were on the road by about 7:20. 

Similar to yesterday but the road got rougher and rougher. 

Many many bicycles on the road, people going to work and to school. 

One thing about Nepal, there are very few cars, people here cannot afford them. We have seen far more tractors than cars. Of course there are many buses and tuktuks. 

The trucks are mainly local tip trucks but there are a few goods lorries and these will increase the further east we travel. 

After about 150km we came to the large town of Butwal, we stopped here for gas and a drink. 

Here we left the main road and headed into the hills for Pokhara, at first I thought Maps.me was having a laugh and directing me into the local motocross course, wow the road was not even potholed, it was like wave after wave of undulating craters, muddy and uneven. The “road” was basically formed by laying down river rocks and letting them fall were they may. 

With 150km still to go it was going to be a long day. Fortunately after about 15km the seal started and it was good, really good.

 The scenery was magnificent as we headed further into the hills with cultivated terraces and lovely little villages. A hard life though for the people trying to earn a living here. 

Sadly the last 70km were extremely tight and windy and very bumpy, our bottoms took a pounding. The area is very prone to slips, all cleared but rough and slippery in those places. We had a few rain showers which was a blessing in one way, damping the dust and treacherous by making the roads slippery. 

About 25km before Pokhara Robyn said she needed one last stop so I pulled into what looked a truck park, nice seal but at the exit was a barrier. We took our break and I suggested Robyn might like to mount up on the other side of the barrier, I inched forward and got my head jammed between the barrier and the petrol tank, what a plonker. 

So not far to go, we descended a steep hill into the town a truck coming the opposite way belched massive diesel smoke over us which is not uncommon. Thank goodness that’s the last time today said Robyn, kiss of death, around the very next corner an even smokier truck followed by an even smokier bus gave us a double whammy! 

We arrived at our hotel which is very nice and the poor receptionist just had to ask “what happened to your faces”. 

After check in we shared the elevator with a German guy obviously in a trekking tour, I don’t think he appreciated having to share the ride with us. 

A well earned beer from the top floor of the hotel. In the background is the lake and when it’s not cloudy and raining, Annapurna.