Trek to the Mountains

 We had an early start this morning to travel to some hot pools with Billy and Fiona. It was as usual a rather entertaining car ride with a goat jam along the way with the usual tooting, and a rather precarious ride up the mountain in an very small car.  Twice we had to get out of the car so it could get over the ruts without bellying and having to push it once. We got to the end of what was practical by road without wrecking the vehicle. 

The walk which unbeknown to us should have taken two hours, was shortened as we managed to hitch a ride on the back of a truck heading up to the power station at the end of the road.  Did I mention that our taxi driver, come guide didn't have a clue where to go in spite of professing he did, typical India. After arriving at the power station, he asked the workers which way to go, which confirmed our suspicions. 

After hiking for about an hour up a very steep mountain track to find as we reached a ridge we still had two ridges to go in the distance before we got to where he was pointing, which was the location of the hot springs. By this stage adding up the hours to go, then get back we decided that as the views were stunning we would count our losses and be happy with the hike. 

Finding an overhanging rock for some shade,  Billy made us fresh bread and tomato slab sandwiches. Yum.

Heading back down the mountain path after about 20 minutes our driver waved his hand called something out in Hindi, which was interpreted by gestures that he had lost the f------ car keys!

Well Fiona and I sat down, Jim, Billy and the driver had no choice but to back track and hope they were where we had sat down for lunch.

Luck was on our side and eventually the boys were back with the keys. We continued down the track and reached the power station.  On the way down we saw a very small snake slither across the track in front of us. First snake sighting in India. Hoping to get a ride back in the truck we hitched up the road in turned out to be wishfull thinking. So we continued walking on for about two hours til we reached the car, very hot and tired. 

The drive back, aside from being very bumpy was uneventful and I for one was pleased to be home. However it was a great day out and the scenery looking both up the mountain and down the valleys were stunning.