Day 5 - Nako 50 kms - 3,600 metres ! " Welsh King of the Mtn"!

OMG -  Will this climbing never end ! It was almost 20 kms of it as we ascended first on a spectacularly narrow road hewn out of rock surrounded by sheer drops and then on a more sedate road of never ending switchbacks as we made our way slowly to the Monastery town of Nako.

It was a morning of dejavu as we descended 4kms after breakfast to the valley floor weaving our way through a long line of wedding cars . I nearly ended up embedded in the wedding party itself when a car in front of me stopped without warning on the narrow road so the driver could talk to a pedestrian he knew !

After further descent the real climbing began at an army bridge that indicated no photos were allowed - promptly ignored by Indian and visiting tourists alike !

The lightweight Welsh Gazelle lead the way, in fact Pete &  I didn't see Graham again till the top while we plodded along occasionally even getting out of granny !

While the climb was hard work the scenery was stunning and our early arrival gave us a chance to take in the town's local sights including Pete's impressively displayed washing !