Part 163 - Sheka to Shio; march from Pendo via Karta toward Cha

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SUMMARY:
After securing authority, the party changed transport at Tro Shika, passed Trashi Trongme, and reached Shio, finding the Dzongpen absent but his substitute helpful. On 5th November at Pendo, they started early, reached Karta quickly, found no yaks, and sent coolies onward toward Cha.

CONTENT:
194

Sheka
Yar Shika, once we had our authority. A few coolies started at 6:30, the rest about 8:00. Changed transport at Tro Shika, then on a very short way to Trashi Trongme, which we left at 1:00 pm. Coolies came well, we were in Shio at 4:30, about 12 m. up the Loro Nakpo Chu from the junction. The Dzongpen is away, but a most excellent man is here in his place. I think there should be no trouble. But I can find out nothing about the road on, how long the transport expect to take from Karta to Tsona. The atmosphere today was wonderfully clear and the colouring of the bare hills magnificent. Shio is an attractive place, the Dzong consists of some neat whitewashed houses, on top of a huge square lump of conglomerate, and has a very commanding position. I have only seen it in the evening light, but it looks very pretty. Locals all very friendly. These constant changes of transport are a perfect curse.

5th November. Pendo. 15,000' approx. 15 miles.
A lovely day. We started off with a rush just before 6:30, and the coolies went very well indeed to Karta, doing the 7 miles in 3 hours. At Karta we found there were no yaks, but coolies were promised to take us to Cha. They got off by 11:00 and on we went. At