We all sprang out of bed at 4.30 this morning and we're in the Kathmandu domestic departure lounge by 5.45am..!!!
Along with several others, we waited...and we waited...and we waited..!! The lounge became very full of passengers trying to depart to several parts of Nepal that were closed due weather. With no spare seats available........we waited.
Now normally, if you haven't been called up for your Lukla departure by around late morning to midday due weather, you normally get cancelled for the day. But today, Tara Airlines insisted all Lukla passengers remain at the airport well beyond midday and wait for Lukla to open. (They were trying to clear the backlog from yesterday's cancelled flights). In fact, it was 2.15 when the announcement came over that Lukla was still closed and all Lukla flights were cancelled. Devastating..!!! A very long day for very little result.
We are now back in Thamel, some of us still wearing our day 1 trek gear..!! Sitting in Sue's favourite coffee shop (Himalayan Java) washing down (and eating away) the frustration of the day.
Now I am used to Lukla delays. That's the nature of the EBC trek. (Adventure, not a Holiday). But today was tough for several within the team.
So tomorrow is no guarantee either. Forecast only marginally better and we are now on the 3rd flight due to the backlog of those now trying to get in/out of Lukla..!! Hoping for good fortune tomorrow..!
Neil is the positive one in the group. He has titled tomorrow "Tok Tok Tuesday"....being our planned 1st night trek.
Along with several others, we waited...and we waited...and we waited..!! The lounge became very full of passengers trying to depart to several parts of Nepal that were closed due weather. With no spare seats available........we waited.
Now normally, if you haven't been called up for your Lukla departure by around late morning to midday due weather, you normally get cancelled for the day. But today, Tara Airlines insisted all Lukla passengers remain at the airport well beyond midday and wait for Lukla to open. (They were trying to clear the backlog from yesterday's cancelled flights). In fact, it was 2.15 when the announcement came over that Lukla was still closed and all Lukla flights were cancelled. Devastating..!!! A very long day for very little result.
We are now back in Thamel, some of us still wearing our day 1 trek gear..!! Sitting in Sue's favourite coffee shop (Himalayan Java) washing down (and eating away) the frustration of the day.
Now I am used to Lukla delays. That's the nature of the EBC trek. (Adventure, not a Holiday). But today was tough for several within the team.
So tomorrow is no guarantee either. Forecast only marginally better and we are now on the 3rd flight due to the backlog of those now trying to get in/out of Lukla..!! Hoping for good fortune tomorrow..!
Neil is the positive one in the group. He has titled tomorrow "Tok Tok Tuesday"....being our planned 1st night trek.
