Riding over Chang La pass at 5,280m we’ll cruise over towards Pangong lake – the highest salt water lake in the world. Watch out for the huge Himalayan Yaks that patrol the valley! We’ll stop for a picnic lunch alongside a stream in this beautiful valley, before continuing down towards the lake.
The lake, shared by both India and China, is 134km long and a spectacular sight with snow capped mountains and orange rock faces reflecting off of the perfectly clear blue waters.
Turns out Jim the fellow who fell heavily twice the second day of riding had 5-broken ribs and over the preceding few days developed a hemotoma. At the summit of Tanglang La he was put in the van and yesterday morning taken to the hospital in Leh and into surgery soon after. Apparently while in hospital in India it is the family that takes care of the patient so Jim's friend along with the guide and medic took shifts overnight keeping him comfortable while he recovered. Due to the nature of his injury and the surgery he likely won't be able to fly for a few weeks so as we left this morning arrangements were being made with his insurance carrier for a room in the best hotel in town.
Best government road sign of the day: "Don't be a gama* in the land of the llama"
* Ya, Google doesn't know what a gama is either.
PS: I won my bet, Mark was back on his bike today and one of the Portugese has still not received his luggage. That being said his travel insurer or Air India will soon find out that they have been ponying up for the most expensive motorcycle gear and casual wear to be found in Manali and Leh.
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