Gritty ride to Bomdila

The climb to Bomdila from Rupa was on my mind for many days. I had not climbed 925 m/ 3000 feet to an altitude of 8000 ft. over just 15 kms with a fully loaded bicycle for many years. Certainly a 1000 m climb over almost double the distance was commonplace but this climb promised to be super tough. I was worried how Ashim would climb but the partly successful Padri Pass ride had conditioned her for what to expect. We only hoped that it would not be hot and sunny. But our wish was not granted and soon after 10 kms and climbing over 25% incline grade road loops we had hit our reserves and soon after 1 pm were heaving and pushing our bikes up the mountain determined not to give up. All of the army trucks were going up on their 1st gear! Along the way we were met by many kind strangers who stopped to share bottles of water. And one 88 year old after seeing us push our bikes and stopping to catch our breath, went to his backyard apple tree and gave one to us, telling us to share it! Finally after six hours on our bikes, filled with frequent stops in the shade, local vegetable shopping (!) and snapping and grunting, we entered Bomdila. It was a good testing ground for the bigger climbs on the way to Tawang.

We spent two days at the Monshing Homestay in Bomdila run by Sange and his wife Tenzin. They both run an awesome, well maintained homestay with really delicious food, all for 2100/- per night. We rested a lot and visited the main market, wholesale shops selling everything from dried mushrooms, soya beans, fermented cheeses etc and to the Upper Gompa to offer prayers. I had last been to the Lower Gompa more than 40 years ago with my parents.

We had been on the road for a week since we left Tenzin Gaon and on the eight day we descended to the Dirang valley and rode for about 35 kms through some sharply curvy roads to 4500 ft., having to apply brakes all the way down. We found a homestay by the Dirang river, nestled on the edge of a hamlet away from the market and in the midst of pure natural surroundings again.

Our graded ascent to 13500 ft to Sela Pass, en route Tawang would start from here.