Annapurna Circuit - DOWNHILL

May 8, 2014

What comes up, most come down!  And what better way than with a mountain bike?!?!  The same day we made it over the pass, we turned around and hiked over 6,000 feet downhill.  With screaming knees - mt. biking just seemed like it made the most sense.

Rhiannon, Omar and I in Mukinath - day 1 of our epic 3 day bike journey!

The first flat of the trip, but by no means the last.

Salt flats . . . err salt downhills . . .

The start of the ride was pretty barren considering we were still at such high altitudes.  The tiniest up hills had us gasping for breath!

Epic Views

We stopped in the town of Kagbeni for coffee and to enjoy the views into the Mustang Area - it's a $500 permit for a 10 day visit to that conservation area filled with displaced Tibetans.

Kagbeni wasn't the same after a group of hoodlum cyclists went tearing through!

We lost Omar on day 2 of cycling due to more parasites and rumbly tumblys.

Crash 1 - it took several tugs to get my front tire out of that mud!

The Rumbly Tumbly Crew was back together for day 3 of cycling.

Swimming in Titi Lake seemed like a good idea . . . till we dipped a foot in it and decided otherwise.

Crash 2 - narrowly missing one of the drop offs.  

By day 3, we had descended enough that we were back to green hills and pine forests.

We were all sad to finish the ride, but our butts and arms couldn't have handled another day if we tried.

Nothing that 4 hours in the natural hot springs couldn't cure!

We said sad goodbyes to Rhiannon - nothing like running out of cash to force one home!

Not only was trekking a rude awakening after three days of biking - but it was all back uphill!!!!

The towns were cute and the vegis fresh.

Our first actual summit of the trip!

The walk back to civilization took us through lush jungles and cloud forests. 

And down 4,000 steps in one day!!!  It's been 4 days since we made it to Pokhara and my calves still hurt to the touch!