Step 1 …. Bombay to Calcutta via a narrow gauge railroad
… then, Camp Kamcharapara – staging area for final preparations before hitting the Burma Road
Luxury Camp Kamcharapaa accommodations with 360 degree A/C
Before we begin, time-out for a few pictures ….
5 ton trucks were the cargo beast of the Burma Road
Heavy Equipment Convoy Crew
5 ton with towed trailer
2 1/2 ton _ “duece-an-a-half” _ utility truck
Flatbed with construction material
The longest flatbed in the 69th DRS – driven by Ace Adams
… and another!
Another rolling workshop
Stu Fontaine’s tool shop on wheels
5 ton utility truck
standard issue A-1 JEEP
And off we go! Some of the sights and scenes along the Burma Road…
A brief rest stsop.
Attention Bikers, this is the true “Dragon’s Tail”
Scenic view from a high-altitude bivoac site.
A “cut” into the mountain so sthat Ace Adams’ flat bed could make the bend with th e assistance of a winch.
A group of 5-ton cargo trucks negotiating the cut.
The view back towards the cut after successfully completing the turn.
One of too many spots with only inches to spare.
First good look at the Salween River Bridge
Unlike Burma Shave, Burma Road signs must be taken seriously
Waiting until the vehicle in front of you is COMPLETELY off the bridge.
When they say one vehicle at a time, the mean ONE vehicle.
The bridge swayed constantly as each vehicle crossed.
Floating on water vs. floating in air – both swayed a LOT!
Natural rock bridge formation
A little trickier, but still not too bad.
But it wasn’t all just driving, in some places they had to rebuild and repair the road
Convoy with flatbed and aircraft fuselage wait while grader repairs the road.
Big rigs and mountain roads don’t mix well ….
These curves are easy … just watch that first step when you get out on the passenger side.
A little trickier, but still not too bad.
A little too tight, lost the trailer wheels on the inside of the curve.
Calculating how to make the turn, first from one side ….
… and then from the other.
A gentle slide-off in the mud.
Another slide-off, but a relatively easy recovery.
One of too many spots with only inches to spare.
Engineers reinforced the bridge and the rear trailer wheels still broke through.
In spite of all the planning, slide-offs happen.
Far better to have missed the inside of the turn rather than the outside – a drop of several hundred feet.
The large trailer rigs weren’t the only ones with problems.
The Road claims another truck, but the crew was OK and we’ll salvage it for spare parts.
But, If you could afford the time to look, there were some interesting sights along the way.
Niagra it’s not, but still picturesque.
It’s not the swimming hole back home, but any chance for a bath is great.
Anti-Japanese propaganda mural.
Rice fields terraced into the side of the mountain.
Destroyed Japanese tank.
Destroyed Japanese artillery.
No horse power, but buffalo power runs this mill.
The Chinese built a lot of these underground shelters to help protect themselves from Japanese bombers.
Village on Pan Lung River outside Kunming.
Remnants of the ancient walls surrounding old Kunming.
AT long last, our new home is in sight – the Kunming City Gate.
Now it’s time to unpack, build the barracks and shops and get to work.
