We left our hotel after breakfast around 9:00 am, a dreary group, but hopeful that we had one last chance to capture a glimpse of the magnificent snowcap of Everest. We hadn't been going awfully long before the Truck over heated and quit and Ian and Taｍａr had to do another repair job. We started up the Giacuola Pass (5,230 m) and just before the summit had an opportunity to see Everest. Unfortunately, it is obvious that the bad weather has continued and the peak was hidden behind a mass of black clouds despite the beautiful blue skies everywhere else. We moved along The Friendship Highway which passes along the side of a river on the floor of a valley surrounded by weather-beaten hills with the odd glimpse of the white capis of mountains in the background. We passed yaks grazing on the sparsely vegetated ground, herｄs of sheep and goats together with their keeper, ａｎｄ small communities with the typically Tibetan houses, all the time struggling with the Truck over heating. We stopped for lunch in one of the typical villages, Lhatse, population 2000 and elevation 3950 m. Couldn't really face anything Tibetan so had a plate of french fries. This holiday has been atrocious on the nutrition side!! After lunch, I went shopping for the Truck and boughｔ (11) a plastic basin (7 yuan); (2) a 10-pack of toilet paper - 25 yuan; (3) two perma markers - 6 yuan. Then back on the Truck and off again. Up over another pass, Cuola, 4500 m and on again. Once again the Truck broke down, this time everyone thought the engine had blown, but Ian got it going and we set off again. The Truck has caused a ton of problems and people are really sick of it all. Its been a tough few days let alone with all the stｒuggles of the Truck. Ian and Tamar have done a superb job at keeping their cool and fixing everything that breaks, but many are saying that Dragoman should not put a Truck on a trip like this if it is not in the appropriate condition.
We had 80 kms left to do at 5:13 pm, and made it through to Shigatse for 6:15 pm. We had to go straight to the police station to have the Trucks accepted to China and Ian and Tamar had to pass a driving test. We arrived at the Holy Land Hotel about 8 pm. Its fabulous! Nice and clean. TV, a/c, shower cubicle, brand new toilet, hot water, telephone and a fabulous computer panel to play with that controls everything in the room such as lights, TV, maid call button, etc. There is also a haｉｒ dryer. We quickly went out to eat and funnily enough when we got there, many others from the group turned up theretoo. Just can't get away from each other!! Food was great. Back to hotel and sleep about 11 p.m.
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