Blog 115

Day 1 - Today started with a squishy ride up to Nayapul where we were to start our trek. With apprehension I waited for the driver to announce we were there and the trek began. Finally we had started. Days of 'getting ready', planning and sending off itineraries to parents had made me increasingly nervous, especially after the cyclone Hudhud which had killed so many just a week and a half ago. Anyway once we were off, the excitement started! First day started off with a 5 and a half hour walk, mainly gradually up hill to our first night sleep in Ghandruk. Seeing the snowy peaks so close felt so exciting, and only made us walk faster. Not having a guide or a Sherpa to help us out meant the map was constantly at hand with the forking of each path. The most frustrating part of the first day was probably the buses that wobbled past us on the bumpy track, with walkers grabbing a lift for the first 4 hours of walking. Having said that frustration ebbed away when we saw Sherpas carrying 35-40kg rucksacks and still able to say a cheery 'Namaste' as you passed on the steep parts. Honestly don't know how they do it!

Lunch break at a tea house gave us a much needed power boost as we consumed our weight in refillable Dahl bhat. By lunch time out supply of normal water was nearly out and we had started the stream refills. Chlorine tablets seemed a crime when you saw just how crystal clear the stream water was! Better safe than sorry though. A final steep plod up a hill into Ghandruk was rewarded with a gorgeous guesthouse with a view from the bed of the mountains. Bonus of WiFi, meant we could have last contact with family for a few days, and send a sneaky picture of our 'room with a view'. The tea house did have a slight downside...cold showers! And after a sweaty first day and the temperature change as we gained height, this felt pretty awful. We braved it regardless and jumped straight into thermals! A social evening with the other trekkers, over a second helping of Dahl bhat for the day.

Dahl Bhat... 380nrp.

Nyapul 1060m to Gandruk 1940mtrs.

Love Jo x

Blog 116

Day 2 - today started off deceivingly gently. We were soon brought to our senses when we reached the top of a valley and saw the path all the way down and AALLLL the way back up. This wasn't just a long descent and assent though, it was kind of a scrambley climb/lower in some parts. Needless to say we were feeling pretty damp by the time we had finished the climb. A 6 hour hike today, and today was the day that the walking poles came into their own. After that day I think I'd officially be walking like Grandma Jessie after a good long nap and her knees had ceased a bit if it hadn't been for those sticks. (Sorry Grandma!)

I'm starting to get more used to drinking swimming pool water by now, Bryn is still not a fan, so much so that he is still holding his nose whilst he has a few swigs. Dhal baht however is still slipping down nicely, and double helpings only adds to the enjoyment.

On arriving in Chomrong at 1pm-ish, lunch and a semi warm shower (now being charged at 100nrps) were the first things on the agenda and before we knew it the heavens had opened and clouds had closed in on our beautiful view. A few hours of rain and we got our view back again. Potentially my first and last hair wash of the hike too... Wet hair and freezing air was a very cold mistake!

Dhal baht...420nrp.

Ghandruk 1940m to Chhomrong 2210m.

Love Jo x