Doesai plane, also known as Devil's eye

---

Leaving Skardu could run down Indus gorge again or go up over Deosai high plain (at 4100m 2nd only to one in Tibet), with a nice run past a lake. On the maps it suggested track was no worse than usual, although on bike revered to it as Devil's eye!



Well run up from Skardu past Satpara dam was mostly tarmac, but washed over by gravel and sand. Higher, it just got steeper loose gravel, bit tricky given drop on one side. Quite pleased to escape onto the top, just to meet 6 Jeeps with 10 American torists on a guided tour, they were equally surprised to see lone Brit biker.



So few km on, they all stopped, where guides had prepared hot coffee and biscuits, would I like some? Yes rather! Gravel tracks with some wet clay patches, quite interesting how fast bike turns backwards when wheels go down different ruts, the guide jumped out picked me up, but I think his reward was me plastering him with mud - sorry.



Bummpy 20km of track across top, between snow capped peaks all around, with lake (just a bit too cool to swim in), must have seen 5..6 marmots about, all in a nice place to visit.



Run down to Astore on better roads, but security check confused, where were American and my guides? But U can't be here! So they provided my first police scort, please follow police bike slowly down road, then 2nd bike ran out fuel! - although I gave him 2ltr fuel, still could not get lid off tank, so in top-gear style I left him to sort it.

---

Photos

Satpara lake
New hydroelectric project.

Big rocks
When will top one fall?

Gravel track
Loose gravel can be a challenge, add slope & the edge.

American tea party.
What fun.

Golden Marrmot
Also 40 brown bears live up here, so I did'nt hang around much!

Digging out gravel
Typical combination, Massey 240 tractor.