Kathmandu - safe and sound...

If I had had the opportunity to write a post on Sunday or Monday it would have been something like this.

On Sunday morning, setting off to climb Kalla Pattar at 5am in the pitch black at -10 degrees, with only a head torch, a water bottle and a Stoats porridge oat bar for support, I would have have said, right now, if I can do this you can just about throw anything at me and I think I'll cope. We reached the top at 7am with fantastic views of Everest but with a frozen water bottle and no feeling in any fingers to take photos. It was like almost being on top of the world. We descended before breakfast, quick bowl of porridge and then a further 7 hours walking down the mountain.

However, Tuesday, that thought of mine was truly put to the test. Waking at 4 am with violent gastro bug, I had to set off walking for 8 hours, vomitting, rushing behind bushes, crying most of the way down. By the afternoon, I didn't have the strength even to hold my walking poles, thought I would faint at any point. By some miracle, I'm not sure how, but I owe Rinzin, Lakpah, Liz and Bernice a whole heap of thanks for staying with me all the way, I managed to make it to our destination, crawled into a sleeping bag fully clothed and slept for the next 14 hours. It was hell. Me and the doctor, Ross, got it the worst, but others too suffered, including Liz and Bernice.

But, hey, it's over now. We returned to Kathmandu this morning on the first flight from Lukla. I almost wonder if tonight I might attempt my first beer in two weeks, the trip needs celebrating afterall. Looking forward to getting out and about in Kathmandu for a couple of days and feeling normal again.