Day 4 to 6

Day 4 is the day we leave Delhi. Early start and on the road across the city. Tried to see the India Gate but due to some kind of parade we couldn't get close. Anyway as the city awoke we picked our way north towards NH1 the Grand Truck Road.

Simon lead us and did a brilliant job finding the highway. We trundled north only doing 40 to 50 mph. As usual the GTR had all its usual suspects including goats, cows, broken down Lorries.

We stopped for fuel and at Dahabas to eat and take on fluids it was damn hot.

Macdonalds at Chandigarh was a definite pip stop, cold Coke and air conditioning. Same stop as 2013 with Andy. Got lost for the Shimla turning although it was clearly marked. We started to climb up the hill towards Shimla but found the the road grid locked. Somewhere in the region of 60 cars were broken down on the hill with radiators and clutches. Hill starts in the Indian heat broke them. So far as to say it took some time to get going up the hill and with road works it was a minefield. Add to this Indian drivers.

I have a golden rule when driving in India....Don't drive in the dark. Anyway we were running late and 14 hours after starting we arrived in Shilma....in the dark. The hotel we knew and used before was full as it is Indian holiday season. Simon after some time found an hotel but no water but fairly secure parking. It was decided to have a day off as we were all knackered. So a lazy 9am start but I had been woken at 6am when two monkeys climbed into our room through the open window. (Simon). One was on the flooring the other sat on the window sill. I shouted at them and they ran off nothing missing. Two monkeys had also invaded the other room after they also left the window open.

Spent the day walking around Shimla and even managed to find an opticians and had two pairs of reading glasses made at £12 each. Bargain. Evening was meal in a bar (Paneer Tikka) and had to wait out the thunder storm/monsoon.

Day 6 

Left Shimla and battled our way to Manali, left at 0630 and arrived at 1630. We went to a hotel Simon knew, expensive but good. We had a short walk into Manali but it was so busy. Back at the hotel had Paneer tikka masala and Coke. A fairly early night. 

We knew we needed to get a permit to travel to the Rohtang Pass but we didn't have the time to wait for it and it would have been Thursday. We decided to try and blag it and try and be dumb tourists.