At around 8 p.m., the bus arrived but was full. Miraculously, the driver created
space inside the bus for the bike and set off along a narrow road over the
mountains. We bounced along, without the slightest chance of catching any sleep.
You had to hang on to your seat, and the music blared throughout the night,
highly likely for the driver’s benefit.
The 270 kilometres took 11 hours, and Kale was reached around 7 a.m. the next
morning.
Kale – Tamu - 140 km
Once off the bus, it was straight on the bike towards Kale. I knew the ride would
be long, and someone mentioned it wasn’t doable in a day (maybe they wanted
to offer me a ride). Not knowing what to expect, I had a quick bite to eat, and
although I could’ve done with some sleep, it was best to get underway as soon as
possible.
It sure was a long distance, but at least the road wasn’t mountainous. I even
encountered a fellow cyclist heading in the opposite direction and felt I wasn’t the
sole nutter in this remote part of the world.
Luckily, Kale was reached shortly before dark, as the sun set around 5.30 p.m.
and it became pitch-dark soon afterwards. Biking into Tamu, I spotted the Shwe
Oakar Guesthouse, where I was to pick up the permit. The place looked good
enough to stay and I couldn’t wait to shower, and find food and beer. I slept well
that night.