DAY 115 (Saturday 12 November 2011)

I can’t believe that I agreed to get up at stupid o’clock to be out on a bike ride with the Everest Runners (they were running, I was biking) on a Saturday morning.  Anyway, the destination that we were headed for today was a route that I had never done before and to be honest, I don’t think I shall be doing it again in a hurry, I will do it again, but not anytime soon.

We all met at the CHAUTARA (location on camp), my bike got put into the back of the minibus (the start point was out at BHAKTAPUR) which was too far for the runners to get to, plus it would have involved them running down the actual highway, yes KATHMANDU actually has a highway, anyway, we got to the drop off point at BHAKTAPUR and then it started, the long, and I mean long ride to NARGAKOT, that was at least a 3000ft ascent around some winding roads to get there.

I must admit I was near the back, ok I was at the back for the majority if not all of the ride up there, Nicky did walk most of the hill, but she wasn’t feeling her best and I struggled on my bike, I was all for giving up and wanted to get in the minibus, (Nicky wouldn’t let me), and to be honest I am glad that I didn’t as the rest point at NARGAKOT was just around the corner. 

Before me and Nicky got in the minibus

After we left NARGAKOT it was another hill which there was no way I was doing on my bike, so me and Nicky both got in the vehicle and we past the others on the way to the next check point, and to be honest what made my day was that even the RAO (Maj Kevin Thorpe) even had to walk the hill, now this person is very fit.

DCOS with a brew provided by Nicky

The minibus left us and turned around at the top of the hill as he was not able to follow me and the runners down the mud tracks, (I love downhill), so he went to our next meet up point, this is where we would decide whether to get back on the minibus or to run back to the drop off point, it was decided that they would run back to where we were originally dropped off, it wasn’t really that far, it was about 5km to get there, it took about 45 minutes to get there before people were able to stop get a cup of tea and have a well earned rest on the bus heading back to camp.

At the pick up point

Jim, Steve, Steve, Kevin, Foxy & Nicky

When we eventually got back to camp, I gave my bike a well earned jet wash, (it got quite mucky really), then I headed home for a well earned shower and then I haven’t really moved for the rest of the day.

So peeps, that is it for today, I think tomorrow I shall be having a lie in before I get sorted for the Embassy’s Remembrance Parade, a bit of ironing and my letter writing, this weekend there will be no cake baking.