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Lukla to Kathmandu....via.....

4/3/2013

19 Comments

 
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Somewhere in Nepal...
I just love Lukla....! Last night we bid farewell to our support crew. All our Porters and head Guide were paid up and tipped accordingly. There was significant gratitude and even some emotion as each Porter made a special effort to warmly hug each and every one of us. What a great support team to work with. Always smiling, dragging our bags to 5,545mtrs and staying with and assisting some of our slower team members into camp each night (11.30pm one night) under headlight. I truly LOVE the Nepalese..!
Then a wonderful night sleeping in Lukla under sheets and not sleeping bags, and a wonderful flushing toilet and boiling hot shower.
We awoke to a lovely morning and were promptly marched over to the Lukla airport terminal ("terminal" perhaps a little complimentary .!)
Our plane arrived and we all buckled in for the classic Lukla "slingshot" departure, with the plane using every inch of the short runway. (Don't blame us, we have all lost weight..!!).
25min later we touched down........but NOT in Kathmandu..!! As we descended, we anticipated the city and the bitumen runway of Kathmandu International, instead we saw paddocks, cows and a bumpy gravel potholed runway...!! Apparently Kathmandu airport was closed sometime after our Lukla departure and our plane was requested to make a diversion and wait at a small precautionary landing strip half way..! What a buzz. We hopped off the plane and watched 3 other Lukla flights make the same landing to await the fog to clear in Kat.
30min later, we were in the air again and finished the trip to Kathmandu with no further delays. 
A quick shower at the Kathmandu Guest House and a much needed shave. Cut-throat blade and 15min head massage for ......A$1.50. How good is that?. Then a desperate race to Pumpernickel Bakery for a well earned Yak Cheese Roll and Flat White coffee (....and Apple Pie).
We are heading to Pokhara tomorrow for a few days R&R. We feel we have earn't it with what we achieved just 4 days ago...! Then back to Kat on Thursday. We have tried to change our ticket to fly out of Nepal on Friday so as to spend a full day in Bangkok before flying home on Sunday, but it appears that there are no available seats on Friday's Kathmandu to Bangkok flight, so our Saturday departure may need to remain. I'm not fussed. It's never easy to leave this wonderful country.

The team have been great to trek with.
  • The Old Codgers were truly inspiring. John trekked steady and strong throughout and often amused us with his travels and experiences, I've requested he write a book called "Travelling the World....on a Dime". I will be the first to buy a copy. Greg and Ray paced each other for the entire trip, pushing each other along superbly. Whether it be the tougher slower days or the ............I was going to say "easier days", but there weren't any, they were inseparable and drew from each others encouragement.
  • The 3 young guys from QLD (Ryan, Carl and Andrew) were an inspiration in how important it is to get along with and support each other. It's no wonder they too have terrific stories of their own travels together. Good friendship is the key to good travel experiences, and these guys have that. I'm wrapped to have met them.
  • How does one describe Nicole? Determined, Stubborn, Tenacious....!! There were days were we thought Nicole was going to turn around and head back. Perhaps there were days when she should have...!Yet just 4 days ago she stood on Kalar Pattar, and that is an achievement that is not handed out to just anyone..! Yesterday when we asked her to commit to a massive 20klm of consistent hills and steps, she delivered, even surprising the entire team with just how well she did. There's no stopping Nicole..!
  • Sue? Well Sue is Sue. She amuses everyone, she encourages the team, and she's a great help to me. Given the team were often up to 5klm apart during any given day, she was always offering to lead the front runners, or stay back with the snail pacers. And she has the strength, speed and patience to do both. Can't imaging a group trek in Nepal without Sue. Thanks Sis'     
This trip to Everest Base Camp and Kalar Pattar has been one of the toughest I have done to date. Mainly due to the unexpected amount of snow and ice that we encounted and had to contend with, but also the significant gap between the quicker trekkers and those slower. But the reward of seeing everyone of them standing on the magnificent Kalar Pattar was such a personal sense of satisfaction. It somewhat fuels the desire to continue offering these group treks.

So the trek blog is over for another year. It's been fun (if not sometimes challenging} to update it each day/night. But it's always worth it when we get great and encouraging responses from those who followed us. Thanks, from ALL of us. It honestly gives us strength and encouragement when we are dealing with challenges up high. 
And thanks to Brian@Weeroona who was always on standby to post an entry when I couldn't .

I'll continue to post a few updates in our last week of R&R for those interested in following our winding down from our big trek. 

2013 Everest Base Camp trek. It's certainly been an Adventure...not a Holiday...!!                             

Above. To the Kalar Pattar victors go the spoils......
19 Comments
Anne
4/3/2013 02:18:59 pm

Ah I can finally breathe a sigh of relief - feel as though I've earned some r&r just reading your blogs Dave - was really feeling for you guys. So, might head off the w/e with some other chicks! Seriously, well done to all of you - mammoth effort. Enjoy your well earned r&r & safe trip back. Give yourself a pat on the back b.........

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david g
5/3/2013 04:13:46 pm

Hi Anne. Thanks mate. Great words. I think "Bill" has really enjoyed the experience.

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Helen and Sib
4/3/2013 02:28:37 pm

Thanks for the blog, it's made great reading and has given us back in sunny Melbourne a sense of your efforts and achievements. Well done and enjoy your r n r.

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Brian@Weeroona
4/3/2013 05:21:52 pm

It reads as an epic walk, snow and ice, altitude and attitude.
Tenacity with a capital "T" with the one who walked in at 11:30 pm, who probably felt like saying, "leave me here till morning on the side of the track".
Well done everybody, particularly David who herded all those "cats". Susan, nobody pushed you off a cliff? Yes I know, you were using reverse psychology.

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Wayne
4/3/2013 11:14:44 pm

I looked forward to all your blogs and followed you all the way, as you knew I would Dave. Sounds like you have led Yeam 2013 well considering you had your own boot problems. Enjoy your r & r and look forward to hearing your stories and looking at your photos when you return. Well done all.

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david g
5/3/2013 04:15:28 pm

Hi Wayne. Thanks mate. Yes looking forward to catching up

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Peter C
5/3/2013 12:38:01 am

Really enjoyed the Blog Dave - very well communicated and it gave an image of just how difficult the trek was. Memories that will last forever and for the fishos perfect timing as it has been so bad here since their departure.

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david g
5/3/2013 04:17:14 pm

Thanks Pete. It's been good having you on board. Enjoyed your prompt responses.
Cheers

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Brian@Weeroona
5/3/2013 02:40:00 am

Where are you staying in Pokhara?

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david g
5/3/2013 04:31:16 pm

Hi B. staying at Hotel Mera, half way along lakeside drive.

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Brian@Weeroona
6/3/2013 05:54:21 am

I see it.
Dal Bhat in the Gurkha Restaurant? Good fuel for a bit of a walk around some of the local ,tracks. Well, you wouldn't want to be just sitting around, you must all be jumping out of your skins with your new found walking fitness!

david g
6/3/2013 07:49:54 am

Brian. As it turns out, today is a national strike so nearly all shops closed. Unable to hire motorbikes, gggrrrr.
Will still try to do a paraglide later, if not then pure relaxation

Brad & Liam
5/3/2013 04:49:39 am

Hey good effort you guys,
Hope you all find a car wash in Kathmandu before you come back, what a dirty looking bunch.
Mum bet you were looking forward to a nice meal after getting back to Kathmandu, we are looking forward to you getting home, we are over Dad's cooking.
Love
Brad & Liam
XXXX

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david g
5/3/2013 06:50:42 pm

Hi Brad and Liam. We have all showered now and smell quite nice.

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shane
5/3/2013 06:50:38 am

wow Nicole! you did it! I was so proud of you when I saw you standing on the mountain top of Kalar Pattar.
You and your team look pretty tough n rugged in the photo of you all by the plane.
Very inspiring. Mom has been excited to hear all your news when I passed it on and is proud of you also!
Give a big thnx to your team leader from me - I really appreciated the blogs and being able to be part of your exciting adventure!

shano

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Rod B
5/3/2013 07:49:07 am

What's this the trekking has ended what am i too read now i enjoyed your blogs (oh well all good things come to an end). Well done Dave on getting a great adventure together and pulling it off successfully and everyone in your team unknown to each other before this pull together and achieve their dreams. Go and enjoy your RnR you have all earned it.

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Leanne
6/3/2013 04:06:58 pm

Enjoy your R & R, glad that you all made it back down safely.
Looking forward to your stories & pictures when you get back.
Amazing!!!! What an adventure - again! Take care.

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david g
6/3/2013 07:58:11 pm

Hi
This Leanne J? Thanks mate. Lets do a catchup when we get back.

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Leanne
8/3/2013 05:54:04 am

No, Leanne K (Tim's better half!!) - gee the altitude must have gotten to you. Hope you recover from your throat infection as we all need to be able to hear how it all went. Rest up!!!




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