Getting to Kathmandu

Sat 18th Sep thru to Sun 19th. We're flying out tonight and I decided to do a couple of things to my bike before packing. A Bad decision!. There had been a bit of creaking around the bottom bracket which I had assumed was pedals. On Sat morning I put a new pair of pedals on and took it for a test ride. Still there. Ok whip off the cranks and BB and check the bearings. Seemed OK. Problem No 1 occurred putting them back - I managed to shear off one of the clamping bolt on the left hand crank leaving the bottom half of the broken bolt in the thread. I managed to remove that by drilling and using an easy out, then it took three shops before I found a replacement. Tristan at TCR generously stripped one out of a new crank for me. Most of the morning gone but late in the process I did find some loose chain ring bolts which were causing the creaking.
I had previously replaced the front disk brake shoes with some difficulty, but I decided I should also replace the back ones which were fairly worn. Don't try to do this at the last minute before an event on Avid Juicy 3's. It took me and a couple of guys at my old shop a couple of hours before the brake was replenished and operating corrrectly.
By the time I had boxed the bike it was close to 6pm, not leaving a lot of time for packing and getting out to Tullarmarine for our 11.30pm flight. We made it and I met up with Nick and John(Aus) in the Check In queue. At this stage I had a lot of hardwear in my carry on bag as Thai Airlines had told me they made no special allowance for bikes. I did a dash to the domestic security station and sorted out what would go through, taking the unacceptable items (spokes, multitool and metal frame of seat bag) back to put in my main bag.  Me being the only one with a bike, the three of us checked in together and they accepted our total of 65Kg without excess baggage charge.
We met up with Ian and Iain and took off on time for Bankok. A long flight of 9 hrs, lots of food and service although I had not much luck with the entertainment system. Bangkok airport was impressive and we had 4 hours to kill there before a 3 hour flight to Kathmando.

From the right - Nick, John (Aus), Ian, Iain and I.

Guess who!

Flying into Kathmando

Visa application and customs on arrival was a casual affair although a slow moving queue for the Visa. Sanjib our tour leader met us at Kathmandu airport and despite lots of prior advice a couple of the guys got talked into tipping a few of the myriad of locals who tried to help with luggage handling to the car (50 metres away in the car park).  A 40 min drive through typically Asian chaotic traffic of cars, motorbikes, rickshaws, pedestrians and lots of friendly honking had us at the Samsara Resort hotel in the colourful maze that is the Thamel tourist district. Here we met up with the 6th member of our group - John (NZ).

The rest of the day was taken up with bike selection for all but me, a shopping spree where we gave a significant boost to the local economy at the outdoor shops and a great candlelit dinner where Sanjib gave us a briefing of what was to come.

From the left -John(Aus), Nick,John (NZ), Ian, Sanjib and Iain.

Telstra at work.

Iain & John (Aus) helping to drag in the customers.

Let's make a start

This is my first attempt at blogging so please point out any obvious misunderstandings etc.

As most of you who see this will know, I'm off to Kathmandu on Saturday and thence to Lhasa where I'll start a bike ride back to Kathmandu via the North Face Everest Base Camp. If you have heard this all before, please be patient as assuming I get access to the net there will be further posts along the way.

I first heard about the tour from an ad in The Australian Cyclist back in April earlier this year. Raw Travel announced this incredible Mountain Bike tour which made me think "If not this year at age 69, then when?". With my very limited Mountain Bike experience (a Flinders Ranges tour last year with Bike SA), no love of hills while riding, and my trusty Voodoo 29er,  I signed up and also took up the associated challenge of raising funds for the Oncology Children's Foundation (OCF).

Four and a half months later, with less than a week to go to the start, I've lost a couple of Kilos, learned to keep up with the roadies on my 29er, grown to tolerate hills (not sure about mountains), been hypoxicately trained by Mel, and with fantastic support from friends, family and associates raised $3136 for OCF.  I had committed to raising $4000 so if you haven't yet made a donation to this very worthwhile cause any contribution would be most appreciated. Be inspired by the great work that OCF does About OCF then press contribute.

You'll see a genuine picture in a few weeks!!