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.