Immediately apparent that we were at 300 meters again, the green trees of Shakti up ahead.
This was at the bottom of the pass, which had excellent roads and we all enjoyed speed and many, many curves all the way down.
Pretty little towns dot the landscape and always the coloured flags everywhere.
Waiting for everyone to catch up. We were happy and hungry at this point.
I think it must be quite an adventure doing a road trip in one of these. They look completely alien..
That evening after a hot shower in the hotel and making contact with Mike and Ryan, we headed into Leh to wander around the market area.
The Tibetan market ladies enjoying a dance.
The Tibetans have been refugees in India for more than 20 years.
The end point of yesterday's marathon was here in Leh. This was the remainder of the setup, not yet taken down.
Evidence of Christian, Buddhist and Muslim culture. Naturally Buddhism is the main religion here. I didn't notice any tension between the different groups, and it was a really peaceful and happy place.
Having a pre-dinner snack and catching up with Mike. You can see he is much better now.
The post-snack dinner. I have no explanation for the way Derrick is dressed. He just didn't feel the chill in the evening air like the rest of us.
This is me in the taxi, saying goodby to the bikes and headed for the airport..
Sandro and Martino were also there but I took no pics after this. I will continue adding photos shared by the other guys as and when I get them..
I'll also write some thoughts and answer questions in the next few days too.
This was an unbelievable experience that words and photos only go part of the way to express. I hope to do something like this again before my time is done. The guys in their seventies proved that it's not too late to do this. Just maybe realize your limitations and work within them. Alfie did exactly this and did the WHOLE ride.
The Himalayas are amazing and mysterious, but the most important thing was that they gave us the space to be a bunch of boys having an adventure and maybe answering a call inside of ourselves to not be ordinary and never be defined by our age, origin or bank balance.
The Road Not Taken
BY
ROBERT FROST
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.