17 June - Nepal - Chitwan National Park

Today dawned monsoon wet!!!!
Our itinerary had stated public transport ( read local public bus for 8 hrs) to the accommodation in the park but our leader offered us the option of a van for an extra US$4 each. Fortunately no one wanted to be that 'Intrepid ' & take the local bus so we left around 9.15. It took a good 2 hours to clear the outskirts of Kathmandu. The rain is turning the roads into rivers of rubbish mixed with brown water. The traffic grinds & zigzags & we pass groups of forlorn, wet locals at bus stops or taxi stops.
We are still at 2000 meters & the Park is around 200 meters so we have to drop a lot in altitude. This means driving down along the road carved along the mountain side, jostling for position with big heavy trucks ... Maybe coming from India as the trucks are brightly painted & illuminated.
It's a sheer drop down the cliff & the road is full of potholes which of course are now full of water.
The rain is incessant, falling in sheets around us, there are no gutters or storm water drains so the water just pours down the mountain side & across the road spewing rocks & debris everywhere. We make it past a mud slide but wonder for how long the road will be passable.
After a lunch stop we drive on to reach the valley where the little town near the park is, our hotel is very atmospheric & reminds us of the Safari lodges in Africa. A surprise activity is planned, bicycling to a local village! Believe it or not I have company in ' I don't ride a bicycle' department so Andrea & I wander around the little village we are staying in.
As our bags had travelled on top of the vehicle covered by a rather threadbare tarpaulin that offered little protection against the rain we all had a selection of wet clothes. No dryers so difficult to dry in the damp humid 30 degrees.

Dinner was under a canopy down by the river on the recommendation of our Leader. With his help we order delicious meals & soak up the atmosphere.