Leaving on a Jet Plane

Day 13 – Saturday 22nd May 2010

Everyone was up early to catch the plane back to Kathmandu. We all watched the tiny planes taking off and landing nervously on Lukla’s tiny runway. The planes come in so close to the mountains and we all held our breath as we watched to see if the pilots could move around the airport hotel at the side of the runway just in time.

Lukla airport is absolutely tiny, just two check-in desks and it took only 5 minutes to get through security and on to the plane.  Everyone boarded the plane sitting in single file, looking out of the window and looking forward into the cockpit as our air hostess did the rounds with sweets and cotton wool.

The engine started and we watched as the plane cleared the runway and the mountains (not by much!) As the plane went up we could see right across the mountains as they peeped above the clouds. It was Josh’s Birthday and we all sang Happy Birthday before sitting back into the flight.

Within 45 minutes we were landing back in Kathmandu back where we had started. As the bus took us back to the hotel we couldn’t wait to have a shower and put on some clean clothes. I also couldn’t wait to have some fruit. We all spent the rest of the day getting cleaned up to feel human again.  I think I must have been in the shower for over an hour.

At night we went to Rum-doodle for a final meal together. This place is a favourite with trekkers and they even give free drinks to anyone who has summited Everest. They gave us a foot shaped card and we all left a message and stuck it on to the wall.  In the morning some of the group were leaving for home so this was the official end of the trip. I was really kind of sad to think that having spent so long together and having this amazing adventure we might not see each other again.

The Last Day

Day 12 – Friday 21st May 2010

Today was the last day of walking. We headed back from Chumua to Lukla where we started. It was a 8km walk but felt like it too forever. Maybe because we were so nearly home. My legs were starting to give up because there were so many uphills. It was so hard.  We past more and more people the lower we got. We past some children who live along the path. One around the age of 3 or 4 was ‘playing in the front garden breaking up rocks with a hammer.

We meat a man on the path who had made it all the way to Camp 4 on Everest and was on his way back. He sprung up the hill faster than any of us. After nearly 7hrs we made it. It was such a relief. All of us were fine and happy to have made it there and back in one piece – and to take off our really smelly boots!
We met back up with Rob who had made it back from Kala Patthar  to Lukla in 26hrs with one of the guides Krishner. No one had ever heard of this being done before. Everyone celebrated in different ways…some with Starbucks (available in Lukla) some with cake or a samosa… I just wanted a drink. We headed out for a few pints of Everest and some cocktails. We didn’t even care that it was still light. We couldn’t stop smiling and danced the night away. It was so great to all be together. I can’t believe I had only met some of these people a couple of weeks ago.  As the night ticked on our thoughts were all turning to the next adventure, the next country, the next challenge or mountain.

On my ipod – Empire of the sun – Walking on a Dream