Rakcham - Into Kinnaur

21st September 2022

A group was supposed to arrive by lunch.

Well, saw them checking in when I went to the reception to settle my bill post dinner. Believe they had stopped at multiple places for God alone knows what sight seeing.

Dinner was a bony affair, with a multitude of vegetables.

Slept as soon as I could.

Left Sterling by 0530.

The drive along the highway was surprisingly bump free, but had lorry and medium truck traffic. The truck drivers are great believers in good manners. Not like the local in their Maruti Altos, which fly.

Just as I saw in Uttarkhand and Arunachal, the most popular brand of car is the Maruti Alto/800. 

Absolutely delightful drive. Will let the pictures talk.

Then turned of the highway South and East towards Sangla and Rakcham.

The road became a single truck width road, climbing steadily. Obviously the condition deteriorated.

Minor road block, but allowed me to take the next few pictures.

Got to Hotel Apple Pie in Rakcham. Ordered lunch.

Had to make a call. Went to the room. Only place to sit was the bed, which had a couple of blankets folded and covered.

As I was finishing my call, the guy came in to tell me lunch was ready. Got up to have some water before heading down.

Saw a mouse/small rat run from one blanket to the other.

Well, have had frogs, spiders of all sizes, lizards of all sizes. But, I draw the line at rats.

Told the guy to get rid of the rat as I had my lunch. He moved my luggage.

Some dal, vegetables and rice was well attacked.

The rains arrived. This is the view from the hotel.

And, my hosts fed me, continuously.

The first is a vitamin C rich fruit. Had one and politely handed it back.

The apple, which was freshly plucked, was consumed.

Took a walk up the road as the rain eased to a faint drizzle.

Please remember the bridge. It comes again later.

Was sitting watching nothing when one of the guys here asked me if I wanted a walk into the rear of the property towards the heights.

Well, put on my shoes fast. 

Went thru an apple orchard which had red and green apples. Plus a sprinkling of Apricot, cabbage and beans plants, some mint, and loads of local berries they eat which I cannot remember the names of. 

Ate a couple of them, loaded with Vitamin C.

Climbed a bit, and the came round the hillside to the mountain stream.

Believe there was a flash flood a while back which rolled boulders down. Had water over the bridge.

 
The stream we came back to feeds the River Baspa, which feeds the River Satlaj. 

The last picture shows you the bridge I was at earlier when I walked up the road.

The drizzle came back as we got back to the hotel.

Making an attempt at loading a video of the drive to Rakcham. Took a few. This was the shortest.

No clue if it loads. It is a extremely short take.

For a longer take of the drive, meet me for a drink.