testmeat photoblog

this was the quiet, serene, calming lake at the beginning of death road - which sounds fairly oxymoronic. but i guess it was as good a spot as any to get the bikes out of the van and begin the journey. before we set off we all grouped together for a briefing. after basic instructions on how to ride a bike a bottle of unspecified alcohol was passed around. i think it was vodka, but it just tasted of pure alcohol, and we were told to take a sip, and pour a sip, to bless the ground. it could be seen as spiritual, if it wasn't for the fact that the tour company was run by a bunch of kiwis, who i think just liked their booze. it didn't go down well for me, as i'd been out drinking until late the night before. very late in fact, i think i rolled into bed at about four the morning, and met up with the cyclists at half six, so i wasn't really in the mood for a wake up shot. then again, half-cut, half-hungover, very tired probably isn't the prime condition to tackle the worlds most dangerous road.

here's the original