Page 16 - DLNoct2018-1035

Katie-Jane L'Herpiniere's Endurance

Adventures

Carrying on from page 15 last month

August 30 th at 9:24 AM ·

Final update before the last push... After leaving CP3 we rode to the base of
Tosor Pass made camp ready for a big climb in the morning. We started very
early under a full moon, bright enough that we didn't need lights for the whole
ascent. It took us 6 hours of pushing our bikes to make the 3900m summit
up in the snowline but the weather was perfect for it. The second half of the
day, which we thought would be downhill, was annoyingly slow progress as it
was rolling and into a monster head wind that zapped our legs and minds of
strength. Today was an easier ride to Kochkor, and ideally we would be riding
on now. However, we are out of power on all electrical items, and can't tackle
the last two days with no lights etc. We had planned to charge up at CP3
but as we didn't get there for a night sleep we couldn't, so we have to
annoyingly stop here :(

We have been told the hardest part is still to come and that it is the
Hike-a-bike section... I have hiked my bike up every single pass in this race so
far, so goodness knows what's in store! I have heard 40% gradients and too
steep to push and that you have to carry your bike!!

In addition: I have a sore ankle. I am getting a few nose bleeds at altitude
that won't clot very well as my blood is quite thin. Also the gears on my bike
are in a VERY VERY bad way. So I am gently coaxing everything to just hang
on in there for two more days for me. Otherwise Lee and I are both very well,
happy and enjoying ourselves. I have pretty much recovered from my chest
infection, Lee was sick for 24 hrs but now feels fine, and our legs are feeling
stronger. In fact at all 3 checkpoints the crew/ volunteers have commented
on my smiling in a suprised tone of voice. My response... "It is everything I
expected, and everything I signed up for, so you have to smile"!

16