Some people are completely mad. But sort of sane, in a mad sort of way, if you know what I mean. We had 40km, and 4 nights, to trek to get from ABC to Phedi, a short taxi ride from Pokhara. But we met one Frenchman who had met a girl while doing the Annapurna Circuit Trek and promised to meet her in Pokhara on a certain date. Only he miscalculated a little when making that agreement (girls can do that to a guy Ed: yeah yeah yeah!) about how much time he had to get up and down from ABC. Needless to say, he thought that a 10hr trek to cover 40km out of the Annapurna Sanctuary would be "doable". Ahhh, the things that people do for love (Ed: the French, at any rate!).......We just knew he was going to hurt a LOT when he finally met up with her. I hope that she was worth it, and he had something left in the tank (if you know what I mean).

Heading out the way we headed in meant that we got see to everything a second time, from a different perspective and with a little more time on our hands. Was it as good going out as it was going in? Absolutely; perhaps better. Where there was cloud and shadow, there was now bright sunshine and blue sky, where there flowing rivers, there was no ice streams and snow. Where we took steady slow steps up into the altitude, we took slow leisurely steps back to appreciate it all again. The people, the scenery, the good food and a hot shower, and a cold river bath.

A hot shower is a luxury like no other after trekking in remote regions (a bath is beyond luxury. If there was a level beyond luxury it can be best described as a hot steaming bath. Preferably with a glass of red wine (glass? GLASS? A bottle. Preferably a magnum as well. Champagne would be better, but you have to take what you can get!)! And Ing knows this well. Hot showers are what keeps a lady happy (besides other things. If you know what I mean ) and a hot shower is what she gets (me too. A lady can't sleep next to a stinking sweaty trekker, if he happens to know what is good for him!)! One shower on the way up. And another on the way down! Bliss, happiness and smiles all round (the world is always in a better shape after a hot shower and then a cup of tea)!

Where a hot shower is the best way to welcome a cold night in, a dip in a glacial river is the best way to:

1. a)Ssuffer possible heart seizure?
2. b) Wash your body of sweat?
3. c)Acquire a level of refreshment not normally sought after by sane trekkers?
4. d)Or, all of the above?

If you choose d) you would have been absolutely correct. Swimming in glacial water can bring on heart seizure. When I did it, I think my heart was swearing very loudly and forcefully, in a heartfelt kind of way. Not long after, I had to deny a transfer to another suitable body. Like rats leaving a sinking ship, heh?

Did I wash the sweat from my body? I like to think so, but I think that the water did not actually have enough time to do anything other than demonstrate the it was bloody cold!

It was very refreshing, and actually very enjoyable. But only after each part of the body subjected to the water went numb! Other parts on the body went numb in complete solidarity. I never knew organs belonged to organisations like that?! Who would have thought.

Needless to say, swimming in a Himlayan river should only be done by the completely insane...in other words, a professional......and I qualify! But what a rush..... (Ed: Video of the event coming soon....watch this space...)

Now does Kathmandu have anything like this, I wonder?