Next day we crossed into Nepal at Banbasa on the western border. The road to this point was rough but crossing Nepal things improved dramatically, and the sign said "Roads built in co-operation by Nepalese and Indian Governments"!!! The traffic problems all but disappeared and the night was spent in Kohalpur at a very basic Guest House. We enjoyed traditional Nepalese food of Dhal Baht.

The road between Kohalpur and Butwal, Nepal.

We made Butwal by lunch the next day and enquired about the road to Pokhara. They said good road, 5 hrs?? But they did not mean the one we were going to take. We headed north and enjoyed 30 kms of reasonable road but it all went bad from there. Could not complete the 155kms before dark and we stayed in a little village (Galyan) that fogged in overnight. Leaving early we made Pokhara by 11am. Great views of the Annapurna Range coming into town. Pokhara is very touristy but are suffering due to political unrest. The village was almost deserted at dusk. Break number two on the shock spring was discovered here and so another welding job was done before heading off to Kathmandu.

Heavy fog leaving Galyan for Pokhara.

K & C at one of the Stupas in Kathmandu.

Enroute to KTM a head-on crash (bus/truck) slowed our progress. These sightings would become common on this part of our journey (Asia). Our aim is not to become part of one.

Sadhus Pashupatinath, Kathmandu.

At KTM we met up with Benka Pulko again, another world traveller (F 650). We last met in Florida USA in November 1997. Some kms have been ridden between the two of us since that time.

Christmas 2000, Kathmandu

KTM was fun, enjoying great food, sharing stories with other motorcycling overlanders, backpackers and bicycle riders. We had a great Christmas and New Year - See Dr. Gregory Fraziers story in January's E-zine of www.HorizonsUnlimited.com We played with the rickshaw drivers and riders, tiger balm salesman, the shshsh hashish sellers and best of all the t-shirt embroiders. Some of our crowd spent many dollars/D.marks on these tempting items. We bought four t-shirts, some bought ten times this!!! They are very good though.

A quick visit to Chitwan National Park

Riding elephants in Chitwan N.P.

Mike and Rosie, New Year's Eve, Kathmandu.

More shock woes as the seal failed and we lost oil and gas. We salvaged it again with a new seal and oil from Germany brought in by special delivery. (Thanks Angela and Co)

New Year's Eve Kathmandu

Group at Durbar Square, Kathmandu. L to R - K & C BMW, Rosie 350 Enfield, Angela Dominator, Mike Moto-Guzzi.