25/08/2017 Kalpa to Pooh
We set off early anticipating a long day of gradual
climbing in the heat along the main highway and then ending the day with a
cruel 300 m climb from the valley floor to the village of Pooh only to have to
return to the valley floor again the next day. |
| The road didn't seem that dangerous |
Descending from Kalpa and then through Recong Peo was beautiful
and required no effort for 13 kms until we once again joined the main highway.
Almost immediately the tarmac disappeared and the roadworks began. We had been
forewarned of this and knew we had a couple of hours before 9 am when the road
workers would begin working with their machinery..The road surface was
especially hard going as it had been scraped away in large sections in anticipation
of laying new tarmac. Progress was slow but following the river all the time
left us with plenty of beautiful views as usual. After 8 kms we were relieved
to come across a proper road surface again but unfortunately this was short lived
and we soon met the next section of 15 kms without tarmac. It was hot and windless
and there seemed to be nowhere to escape the relentless heat. No trees, no
shade. We were drying up and overheating. Eventually the light bulb illuminated
and I realised we could shelter from the sun in one of the culverts passing under
the road. What a welcome relief to cool down for a few minutes although the
occasional heavy lorry thundering overhead did make us worry about how well
built the culvert might be.
 |
| Malc hiding from the sun in the culvert under the road. Not the first time that culverts have come in handy. |
Approaching Pooh we checked the book and realised that if we
pushed on past Pooh and over the next 250m hill we could reach Dubling on the
main highway where there was supposed to be a hotel. A long descent after the
extra climb led us eventually into Dubling where we refused to believe what we
were told, namely that there was no hotel in Dubling. The world suddenly ended,
we were exhausted and desperate to finish the day. A kind local person asked
around on our behalf and an elderly bent over man who spoke no English showed
us a building in which we could sleep. No electricity, no water, no nothing
except the donkeys for company. Tired as we were we decided to retreat back
over the last hill and then additionally have to climb the 300m into Pooh
itself.
However you feel though, when
you get to your destination and they serve up good food and a beer it all seems
to be alright with the world again.
 |
| That beer was welcome. It had been a long day |
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