So after a dramatic change to the start of their trek, instead of flying from Kathmandu to Lukla, Roy, Gail and Alistair found themselves instead flying to Phaplu, which is 3 days trek south of Lukla. The conditions flying out to Lukla were too horrendous, the weather was terrible and it just wasn't worth the risk.
Phaplu is a small village which has a hospital and school not much else. We had arrived as the children were getting ready to pair up to walk together to school. They seemed very excited to see us. We waited here until our Guide Roy was able to hire porters and a guide as ours were in Lukla.
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Team Cooper landed at a height of 2400m  |
This place is also very busy with donkeys and some tractors etc, this would be the last vehicles we will see for a while, but not the end of donkeys as we find out we are sharing their trail to Lukla 3 days away.
So guide and porters organised we start our trek that we have been waiting on. We will walk for several hours this day and we did not know where we would end, but all in good spirits.
Prayer flags are along our way
Looking back from where we came and the runway
The weather is warm and path similar to our Scottish hills except you needed to watch out for the donkeys cause they would quite happily bump you out the way. ( as I found out a few times) we seem to go downhill for awhile before crossing our first bridge and then it was uphill.
Roy and Lawrie stop for a break
We really did not see many people and if there was they were locals and their donkeys. after a few hours we reach the tiny village of Rembo where we stop for lunch of noodle soup and chapati, it had been a long time since breakfast so it tasted so good.
After an hour we left and had to go uphill very steeply, cloud was really low and we could not see ahead of us. At one point ourselves and other Scottish couple Rachel and Graeme were on our own not knowing where to go ( just like at home) we came to a junction at a height of 3080m and a stupa.
Roy, Graeme and Rachel in the mist
Taking a guess we followed one path and about 10 mins later we heard voices of some of the group upfront. (lucky) At this point we met one of our Sherpa's who had walked to meet us. His name we later found out as Ganga. We then have to go downhill for a long way, the female guide we have points out a village in the distance saying where we are heading. Its very slippy underfoot and we have to be very careful.
We arrive at the village called Nunthala at a height of 2200mwhere we will stay in a lodge for the night.
We had to check in at a police station saying where we were from, before going to lodge to wait for others to arrive. One of the Peters arrive saying he had fallen and suffered a gash to his leg
The lodge was very basic but beds reasonable.
There was a shower if anyone wanted but water did not stay warm long so only a couple went for it. Our toilets are not like at home and you have to squat to do the toilet, and it smelled really bad here.
One of the toilet rooms had 2 huge spiders in it, not nice but when one needs to go :(
Our meal made by our cook who had walked 9 hours from Lukla, consisted of pumpkin, lentils, rice, spinach and prawn crackers then black tea to finish off..all of which were home grown. I have to say, I definitely liking the sounds of this Himalayan food, heehee.
Joe had felt unwell by this time which guide Roy had said that none of us were probably drinking enough, so would have to do better the following day. He then informed us of the next day schedule, and what to expect ie ascents and descents
Its been a long day, we have walked fast and for long times. Some are wondering what they are doing here, not what was expected.
Tired and needing rest, we all set off for bed about 8.30 - 9pm
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