August 10, 2025
Bishal-dai's kindness
I had hard time leaving behind my tent, sleeping bag, laptop, and anything unnecessary that might slow me down. I’d be climbing to around 16,500 feet, pushing or carrying the bike in places, and didn’t want to test it or my poor body further—especially since bike's running on its grace period. Through my research, I also knew that there would be enough lodges along the way, and even if not, I could rely on people’s kindness.
Speaking of kindness, the Pokhara mechanic Bishal-dai deserves more words. He was injured when someone rammed his scooter and can no longer ride bicycles. The day after fixing my freewheel, his knee had swollen. Yet, he took me to his friends’ shops to find a fatbike tube, and refused payment for the repair charging only 800 Nepali rupees for the full servicing of MisterGordo. He saw me doing something he, sadly, no longer can. So I set off with even more blessings and hopes guarding, guiding me on my journey.
I left Pokhra at around 10:30 a.m., and rode past the beautiful Begnas Lake.
The day brought water crossings, landslides, and plenty of ukaalo and oraalo—which meant lots of pushing—while the Himalayas stayed hidden behind clouds.
In the evening, I stopped for tea and fresh parathas at a roadside shack before continuing to the small, nondescript town of Udipur, where I spent the night in the only lodge the place had.
Today's ride: 72 km (45 miles)
Total: 4,037 km (2,507 miles)
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