15/10/19 Khare Bazzar

Early start from RIMS to go to the first Tea House on the Trek. Picked up the 3 Trek Guides at RIMS the night before so we were ready to start first thing. Funny to see the teenagers trying to make it to breakfast for 6am. Some made it but most were still trying to make it at 6.45am, buses arranged for 7am!

We eventually left at 8am.

Five minutes down the road the suspect tire that I'd pointed out was flat and we were at the tire stop changing wheels and inner tubes. The spare tire sat on the roof was handed down to be inspected. I had to refuse to allow it to be fitted to the rim as the remoulded tread was coming off in chunks!

Back on the track we crossed the river and were soon climbing mountain roads with hairpins and sheer drops. At least we were on tarmac. I glanced over the edge at one point to be presented with the view of a bus that hadn't been so fortunate at the bottom of the valley. The guide reassured me that it had happened last year so it was OK.....!

Another few hours further on, stunning Ruby Valley scenery, bought us to our lunch stop. I'm holding 143,000 rupees for the whole group, for the whole trip so no pressure. We've reordered food, I'm playing spot the vegetables in my vegetable Chow Mein, the kids are playing spot the chicken in their Chicken Chow Mein, the bus is having another tire fitted as the earlier repair has failed. 

Just another 30 minutes of bus killing road takes us to our overnight stop - Khare Bazaar. 

Khare Bazaar is a little Community sat at 520m in the Ruby Valley and wow what a view. 

Trek starts for real at 7am tomorrow.