My hosts are still sleeping when I wake up so their restaurant is closed. There is another next door so I go there. I am not sure what they have. There is no menu. I am told they have Shorpo. I have Shorpo. It is supposed to be soup, but ends up being a large lump of meat with boiling water poured onto it. It is awful but I eat it anyway. A lorry driver stops and orders the same. I buy some biscuits as I think these may be better. They are not.
I have another pass today. The Otmok Pass is at 3326m. The pass may be higher that in Kyzart, but
the road is much better, and the gradient is less. The weather is not so good however. I have snow showers and hail to ride through. During the brief sunny bits I have fantastic views. But I don't appreciate them so much as I am puff puff panting my way up. At Otmok village I stop for fried eggs, unleavened bread and tea to fuel my ascent.
I keep climbing and make the top. The sky looks rather broody. I take some snaps, make a video and then start to drop. Just as I start it hails, and heavily. As I now have a certain amount of speed due to the descent the hail hurts as it strikes my face. It is also bitterly cold. Climbing kept me warm. Now all that sweat along with wind chill is making me shiver considerably. The chain then comes off and wedges itself between top gear and the hanger. With frozen fingers I prize it out and continue down, wearing everything warm that I posses. As I drop the hail turns to heavy rain and drenches me. Further down I notice a camp site that has a lodge. I pull in cold and expectant. The lodge is beautiful. I have a room with a hot shower and a balcony that overlooks the forest and a stream. I can't believe my luck. I ask what they have for dinner. I am told Shorpo. My luck runs out. I chew persistently, drink tea and buy some chocolate and flop down on my bed and gaze out of the window at the rain as it goes dark.
Climbing up...
I have another pass today. The Otmok Pass is at 3326m. The pass may be higher that in Kyzart, but
the road is much better, and the gradient is less. The weather is not so good however. I have snow showers and hail to ride through. During the brief sunny bits I have fantastic views. But I don't appreciate them so much as I am puff puff panting my way up. At Otmok village I stop for fried eggs, unleavened bread and tea to fuel my ascent.
I keep climbing and make the top. The sky looks rather broody. I take some snaps, make a video and then start to drop. Just as I start it hails, and heavily. As I now have a certain amount of speed due to the descent the hail hurts as it strikes my face. It is also bitterly cold. Climbing kept me warm. Now all that sweat along with wind chill is making me shiver considerably. The chain then comes off and wedges itself between top gear and the hanger. With frozen fingers I prize it out and continue down, wearing everything warm that I posses. As I drop the hail turns to heavy rain and drenches me. Further down I notice a camp site that has a lodge. I pull in cold and expectant. The lodge is beautiful. I have a room with a hot shower and a balcony that overlooks the forest and a stream. I can't believe my luck. I ask what they have for dinner. I am told Shorpo. My luck runs out. I chew persistently, drink tea and buy some chocolate and flop down on my bed and gaze out of the window at the rain as it goes dark.
Climbing up...
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