We treated the pilgrimage family to lunch and made sure they got their fill of Alvin's version of butter tea. Then we said our goodbyes and hit the road...
Stark earned the pilgrims' heartfelt gratitude by fixing their little truck, which had been on the verge of being scrapped.
Alvin didn't tell them how much it had cost to fix the truck...
Stark was a somewhat obsessive mad scientist. In Alvin's opinion, getting the truck into shape to make it to Lhasa would've counted as a success, especially since they weren't that far away...
Instead, Stark had JARVIS produce a lab-made version of the old carburetor, along with several parts whose names Alvin couldn't begin to guess. Then he urged Alvin to open a Space Gate and transport them thousands of kilometers to their location.
If Alvin hadn't stopped him, Stark would've even repainted the rusty old wreck.
Alvin could clearly see the purple-faced man's eyes light up at Stark's work, while the three pilgrims looked unexpectedly alarmed...
Afraid something might come up and make things awkward, Alvin hurriedly got the family moving and decided to reach Lhasa as quickly as possible...
After 300 kilometers and five hours on the road, Lhasa appeared before them in the evening twilight.
After spending several days out on the grasslands, Alvin found the crowds in Lhasa especially comforting...
He had to admit he was still more suited to living among people. He really did like the lively feeling of being around a crowd.
Otherwise, why would he have brought so many people along on this trip?
With the Dongfeng Warrior leading the way and two outrageously expensive motorhomes behind it, Alvin and the others attracted plenty of attention...
The convoy had been driving for about an hour...
On a two-lane city road, with