Monday, March 27, 2006

Day 206 - Over the Que Er Shan pass to Manigango

Start: Road hut below Que'er shan pass, Sichuan, China
End: Manigango, Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan, China
Distance: 62km
Time: 6'07"
Avg: 10 k/h
Max: 42 k/h
Total: 9869 km
Total riding days: 117
Riding hours: 0850 - 1700



There are two bad things about the ride to Manigango.

Firstly, there is the risk that your head will become infected by the It's a long way to Manigango virus. This debilitating condition results in the words it's a long way to Manigango to gurgle, waft, bubble, eruct and honk their way through your brain endlessly to the tune of It's a long way to Tipperary.

This is not pleasant.

Secondly, there is snow blindless, which happens when you forget to wear your sunglasses on snow at 5050 metres.
This is not pleasant either.

It hurts. A lot. I felt a sort of fellow-sufferer's sympathy for Polyphemus.

The pass, at 5050 metres, is the highest point on the road from China to Devon. Downhill all the way home, right?

Right??

The ride up was on deep but traffic-compacted snow. Pleasant, but pushing-only.

Going down was a slushy muddy meltwater hell.



On the up

Cockpit view



Climbing the pass.

Next morning... all that was left...


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