19/6/13
Finally Ashish the chef from the hotel I stayed at in Arumbol called and said he is back in Pokhara. So met for breakfast and was told I could go with him to his village and do some work in a rice paddy. Like plowing with cows.... Well being a farmers son I could not turn that down.
So I spent the rest of the day getting the plastic bags sorting, a rattle on the bike, packing everything ready for travel 21st.
Me and Ashish on the way to his village
Then we went up to the village itself and meet a lot of people also was shown the wonderful views from up there. Faith had some issues on the track up a couple of very steep bits that I had to ride the clutch a bit to make it up (not happy about that). So left her to cool well walking the rest of the way. Then the fun began on the way down the clutch cable broke..... this is about 2km in on a dirt rock and mud track. I got stuck in a bog track and stalled so had to push her to the next down hill. Then made it to another village with a motorbike shop (not Enfield) but the road had been dug up so we where going to have to go around. But Ashish went and got the mechanic who come with no tools and a piece of electric cable.... But the break was too far down into the casing so was unable to attach it. As it was 17:15 and had 30km to get back to Pokhara I decided bugger it and we went with no clutch...
Of course for fun it started raining at about 15km out so had to stop to put wet weathers on. At which point I discovered there is also a power issue with the ignition. So getting an old man to push start us I got going and rode into Pokhara. Only stalled at one point when a truck stopped and cars where coming the other way so I turned and headed back towards the central island in the road and stalled. Hey better there than parking in the ass end of a truck or head on into a car... Stalled again in the flash part of lakeside and because of the power issue Ashish had to push start me and then walk the rest of the way back in the pissing rain (thunder lighting down pour stuff by then).
So I have to go to a mechanic tomorrow and get the bike fixed. Leaving 3 days to get out of the country..... mmm maybe an extension so I can still go to bardia??? we will see when the bike is fixed until then all plans are irrelevant.
I tried to find the hotel I stayed in last year but could not. Finally got told by a boy when out side the building that it was closed, the owner had gone to Kathmandu. So found one over the road. Interesting thing about coming to a town again is when some of the people remember you. The place I had eaten at last time was still going and they recognised me, they have replaced the chopping board I took a photo of last year lol.
Had I lovely ride for most of the day even started thinking I would not have to put the wet weathers on. Was wrong though it rained for the last 50km but nothing too bad. So I ended up coming to the same hotel as last year in Mahendranagar not far to the border. Because I have not stopped at Bardia I have more credit left on the phone than expected so will spend the tomorrow doing internet stuff to use it up before I cross.
Spent the rest of the day doing internet things and trying to use up the credit on my phone. Not sure if Indian sim card from last time will work.
So on to India tomorrow.
Finally Ashish the chef from the hotel I stayed at in Arumbol called and said he is back in Pokhara. So met for breakfast and was told I could go with him to his village and do some work in a rice paddy. Like plowing with cows.... Well being a farmers son I could not turn that down.
So I spent the rest of the day getting the plastic bags sorting, a rattle on the bike, packing everything ready for travel 21st.
20/6/13
Ashish had a few
things to do and they took longer than expected, so plowing tomorrow.
21/6/13
Headed out south for
30km to Ashish's village. Got changed and headed down to the work
area and had a go at all the parts. Picking the seed beds, planting
the young rice we just pulled, Then the fun part, I finally got a
chance to plow with a cow(well bulls actually). Easier than I thought although I did not
drive the cows just the plow. And lastly after the plow you have to
roll the field.... well ride on a board towed by the cows lol and man
it was fun but harder than I expected. Definitely interesting having a
go at the older farming methods. 
Ploughing with bulls
Skiing (levelling) with bulls
Picking the young plants
Planting the young rice
After work feed time
Then we went up to the village itself and meet a lot of people also was shown the wonderful views from up there. Faith had some issues on the track up a couple of very steep bits that I had to ride the clutch a bit to make it up (not happy about that). So left her to cool well walking the rest of the way. Then the fun began on the way down the clutch cable broke..... this is about 2km in on a dirt rock and mud track. I got stuck in a bog track and stalled so had to push her to the next down hill. Then made it to another village with a motorbike shop (not Enfield) but the road had been dug up so we where going to have to go around. But Ashish went and got the mechanic who come with no tools and a piece of electric cable.... But the break was too far down into the casing so was unable to attach it. As it was 17:15 and had 30km to get back to Pokhara I decided bugger it and we went with no clutch...
Of course for fun it started raining at about 15km out so had to stop to put wet weathers on. At which point I discovered there is also a power issue with the ignition. So getting an old man to push start us I got going and rode into Pokhara. Only stalled at one point when a truck stopped and cars where coming the other way so I turned and headed back towards the central island in the road and stalled. Hey better there than parking in the ass end of a truck or head on into a car... Stalled again in the flash part of lakeside and because of the power issue Ashish had to push start me and then walk the rest of the way back in the pissing rain (thunder lighting down pour stuff by then).
So I have to go to a mechanic tomorrow and get the bike fixed. Leaving 3 days to get out of the country..... mmm maybe an extension so I can still go to bardia??? we will see when the bike is fixed until then all plans are irrelevant.
View from the village
22/6/13
Headed to the shop to
get the bike fixed. Changing the clutch cable was not an issue but
his fix on the ignition worked for a while...
23/6/13
Headed back to the
mechanic but he was closed so went to a different one. He found a
problem with the electrics and hopefully has fixed the issue.
Pokhara lake can be lovely at this time.
24/6/13
Only have one more day
of visa left so went and got an extension. Unfortunately you have to
get a minimum of 15 days, oh well have till the 10th now.
25/6/13
Not the greatest
weather in the morning and not so much rush now so did some shopping.
No not THAT sort of shopping, buying things you can only get in
western tourist places like rolling tobacco, papers, a new mouse
(never liked the wireless one except the wireless bit of it lol)
26/6/13
After telling people
last night I would go if it was not pissing down in the morning I
woke to a wonderful morning, so finally back on the road. Heading
south to Butwal is a road I have done a few times now and is a lovely
ride. With some of the road being wet I knew it was raining in some
places just not where I was lol. Ended up in the same place I stayed
last year. This feels a little weird going over things I have done
before.
Tractors getting stuck when stone gathering
27/6/13
Headed down to the
border to get the tax for the bike, just in case. Then headed out for
a lovely ride all the way to a town that I stayed in last year but is
not marked on my map this year. Like yesterday I often rode on wet
road but did not get rained on. Although I did ride over one bridge
and found it was raining on the far side. So I turned around and went
back over the bridge and got a drink to have well getting the wet
weathers on. It spitted a bit but nothing really and by the time I
finished the drink it was not raining on the other side. So riding
over I discovered water from half way on the bridge and even flowing
down the road a bit further on.
I tried to find the hotel I stayed in last year but could not. Finally got told by a boy when out side the building that it was closed, the owner had gone to Kathmandu. So found one over the road. Interesting thing about coming to a town again is when some of the people remember you. The place I had eaten at last time was still going and they recognised me, they have replaced the chopping board I took a photo of last year lol.
28/6/13
After having breakfast
at the same place I eat last year I headed out towards Bardia but
with all I had heard from locals it was not worth stopping now. To do
an elephant or jeep trip you need a minimum of 4. Yes could probably
get them down to take 2 but I'm on my own and it is off season so
there is very few tourist here (Indian or further afield). Also the
tigers no longer need to go to the water hole for water, it's the wet
season now.Had I lovely ride for most of the day even started thinking I would not have to put the wet weathers on. Was wrong though it rained for the last 50km but nothing too bad. So I ended up coming to the same hotel as last year in Mahendranagar not far to the border. Because I have not stopped at Bardia I have more credit left on the phone than expected so will spend the tomorrow doing internet stuff to use it up before I cross.
29/06/13
Headed out to see the
1.5km suspension bridge I saw last year, this time with a lot of water
instead of a dust storm lol. Happy I have been here with the Karizma
before as I am not willing to do some of the things with the Enfield
that I had no worries doing with the Karizma, like riding over the
bridge...Spent the rest of the day doing internet things and trying to use up the credit on my phone. Not sure if Indian sim card from last time will work.
Water under the bridge, this time
Some of the flooding near the bridge.
So on to India tomorrow.
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