Mugling is a small but busy town about halfway between Kathmandu
and Pokhara, on the main road from the South (India). Therefore, the
village was a popular truck and bus stop and came with constant
honking and revving of lorries, and busses spewing black exhaust
fumes.
Mugling – Bandipur - 37km
Ernest’s birthday arrived with the hooting and revving of buses and
trucks. The path continued west toward Pokhara, but after thirty
kilometres of cycling, we veered off to Bandipur. The way to Bandipur
was along a sharp eight-kilometre climb. The notorious air pollution
made chest infections a common occurrence. In Kathmandu (as in
India), the air pollution forced nearly everyone to wear masks. I
should’ve done the same.
I subsequently discovered my rear brake didn’t release completely.
No wonder I was tired the previous day. Finally, halfway up the hill, I
released the brake, after which cycling became far more effortless.
We spent an extra day in Bandipur, allowing my chest to recover, and
explored the area around Bandipur.