Part 4 - March 25–27: Journey via Rydak T.E., Hatisar, to Kabare with vehicle troubles

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SUMMARY:
The party departs after intensive planning over the fate of Tashiding and Crockety, traveling by lorry and jeep to Rydak Tea Estate. Continuing via the Raidak toward Hatisar and then Kabare, they face repeated vehicle issues including getting stuck at a ford, fuel tank punctures, and delays at a ferry, turning short stages into long, difficult drives.

CONTENT:
25th March. BP 29.47 = 3840 70° = 1.0844 Ht. approx

It was very nice to set off at last after a good many days of hectic planning. Planning - not for this trip, which would be easy, but for the sale of Tashiding and Crockety, and wondering what would happen if we did not get a 'let' for Tashiding. Most of this fell on Betty, who also had all the trouble of thinking what was to be done in the Homes. We all left, with relief, at 7.30 this morning in Mintri's lorry and in our old Jeep, lent by Tongue well filled with the driver, Betty Hicks, myself and four Lepchas, two in the Jeep and two in the trailer. All went very well indeed and we reached Rydak T.E. by 5.0 pm with no trouble. It wasn't even very hot, nor very dusty.

26th Hatisar - c 250 miles by Raidak from Kalimpong. We thought this part would be very easy. We knew the road to Sankosh, easy and about an hour or so. Tongue's driver said three hours easy from there on, but it took us 10 hours and some anxious moments to get here. First the lorry stuck in the ford of the small branch of the Sankosh. Everything had to be taken out, the jeep hitched on to tow the lorry, then all loaded up again. The tank was punctured here, and that took time to put right. The same happened at the ferry and a worse leak started. From then on we kept on having trouble with the truck. Due to bad roads, leaking tanks and so on. Luckily we had Tongue's driver who knew the road well, and luckily also the road improved for the last 20 miles.

27th Kabare. This we were told was 8 miles, 5 along the flat and three up. If it is only 8, they are very long ones and we only got up in 10 hours. The road is easy along the river bank for 4 miles or so,