John & Mick's BIG AdventureFriday 13th
Day 56 – 198 kms (14316 kms total)
Up at first light and away, we still encounter a bit of traffic from the trucks who have also waited until dawn to move.
Not far after the point where the road was washed away, we find another, equally impressive landslide that had been cleared. 100 metres down the road, there was a big Kawasaki bulldozer that had been flattened. Anyone sitting in it would have been puréed!
Just past this point we meet a German biker on an Afrika Twin (I think) He had paid up front for his entry to China, as we had. We told him of our troubles and wished him luck.
It is a little cloudy to start, but instead of gradually clearing as normal, it thickens and two hours, (50km), later, starts to rain.
Having refuelled with the last of our rupees, we have enough to reach Abbottabad, about 100kms
The rain gets heavier and as we climb back up into the pine forests, we then creep into the clouds and start to feel the cold.
We reach the village of Chattar Plain and stop at a police checkpoint. The guy gets on the radio and we hear the word “escort”
Ten kms later we are stopped by the police who tell us they are our escort and we are requested to follow them.
We do so for about 10km. They then pull over and we are then led by a police motorbike, a CG125 with two cops, the pillion carrying shotgun and radio.
They also take us to a bank to get cash for petrol, (ours).
This escort is welcome after news of possible villagers’ reaction to the storming of the Red Mosque in Islamabad – especially as Friday is their Sabbath. We are handed baton-like, from escort to escort as they reach their local boundaries, until our final escort ends 50km short of Islamabad, having taken 3 pickups, 3 bikes and 1 car.
The only drawback is that we saw nothing! Racing through towns and villages with sirens sounding gave no chance to take photos!
We hit the bottom of the KKH and call Paddy and Paula, a couple from the British group we met at Dassu. They are not sure if the tourist camp site in Islamabad is safe at the moment, so invite us to stay with them. The camp site was actually closed. The Red Mosque is just across the road!
As employees at the British High Commission, our hosts treat us to dinner at the British Club: Pasties, Chips, Beans and BEER !
A good nights sleep in a comfortable home, is followed by a late breakfast of bacon, eggs, sausage & beans.
We rearrange things on the bikes, but by the time we are done, it is too late for us to get to Lahore. Paddy and Paula have more guests due, so they help us find a local hotel and store the bikes on their drive overnight.
Enormous thanks to both Paddy and Paula for their tremendous hospitality and help.
You were VERY welcome guys! Hope the next chapter of your trip is just as exciting but keep safe! Keep in touch.
Paddy and Paula | 17 July 07 | #Commenting is closed for this article.