The flight to Nepal from Dubai was very smooth – strange to learn that one of the FlyDubai stewards was an English guy from East Yorkshire whose parents live in village about 4 miles from our house!
We arrived in Kathmandu slightly ahead of schedule and then had the long process of visa completion before a short car ride to our hotel where I discovered that it was me and not the trekking company who should supply the main kitbag to be carried by the porter. Quickly resolved with our guide, Santosh, who found one for me to borrow, but an unavoidable unpack and repack exercise to get the weight right after a quick meal.
The time difference between Nepal and UK is 4hours 45 mins and our brief was to be up at 3am for a 3.30 departure by car to get to Ramechap airport by 8am. So after about 5 hours sleep on flights I managed only 1 more hour shut eye before getting up again before I would normally go to bed!!!
https://www.walking-for-a-cause.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/img_0097.movWe left the hotel shortly after 3.30am and had a long car journey initially in the dark out of the city around winding hillside roads which seemed to deteriorate more as it got lighter. A few hairy moments with other vehicles but generally quite entertaining. The small airport at Ramechap/Manthali was crowded with trekkers heading out and returning from their expeditions and flights coming and going almost every minute. After a wonderfully chaotic checkin and security process we awaited the prospect of the 20 minute flight to the most dangerous airport in the world.
https://www.walking-for-a-cause.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/img_0102.movShortly before our flight was called I realised my padlock key and attached wedding ring had fallen out of my bag at some point during the chaos. A quick sweep of the area and a check of my bag pockets revealed nothing and I had no choice but to board the plane without finding them.
https://www.walking-for-a-cause.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/img_0109.movThe small plane flight was short and fun in very good conditions but the excitement of a successful landing at Lukla was overshadowed by my feelings about losing my keys and ring. I searched through my bag 2 more times without success and we ordered some breakfast in the tea house where we were having the trek briefing. Shortly after this I had a thought that maybe the keys had lodged in an external pocket of my bag or even caught on strap. Amazingly I found them trapped between the back of the bag and the waist band. They had survived all the chaos and the flight and so my spirits were super high as I took my first altitude sickness pill and we left to officially begin the trek at about 11.30am in bright sunshine.
The walk was going to be a fairly undemanding 5.5 miles to Phakding, we were in no rush and would be losing altitude from 2850m to 2600m. We made 3 stops for tea breaks and lunch ( my first chance to eat MoMos) and took time to enjoy the scenery.
We passed through a couple of smaller settlements and crossed 3 river bridges before arriving at our lodge tea house for the evening around 4.15pm.
The terrain was undulating, decent paved and rocky paths but we had to pay attention to avoid the numerous Sherpas, donkeys and yaks carrying expedition gear and commercial supplies.
So Day 1 is done and we are warmed up, Jacek and Tomek are great fun to be with and good walking companions so I’m really looking forward now to the rest of the adventure. All 3 of us are sharing a room tonight so I hope we sleep well and they can put up with my snoring.
A long day ahead tomorrow!
What a rollercoaster of a long first day and a brilliant ‘all’s well that ends well’ story about your wedding ring!! Hope that’s a good omen for the rest of your journey and that you got a better night’s sleep (with no snoring).
All is well – just finished Day 5 at Dole – 4100m thanks for the comments much appreciated xx