EVEREST TREK : DAY 25

Day 25.  Ringmu to Junbesi.

Wednesday 3 April.

More lovely rhododendron

I was feeling much better this morning my stomach seems to have recovered fully. I had my usual porridge and coffee for breakfast and will probably be able to eat something more substantial this evening. We were eating in the kitchen again and had the benefit of the cooking fire for warmth. 

Brin suggested making the Lamjura La today, but not long after starting we decided that it was a bit ambitious. Although feeling a lot better we were both drained and exhausted. It was probable due to continuous walking in hard conditions,not eating enough, the cold and the altitude. The decision was to just make for Junbesi and another easy day would help recovery for the climb up Lamjura La tomorrow. From Ringmu the track dropped steeply to the river, Beni Khola, then over a suspension bridge, to the other side and a steep tough climb. Luckily it wasn't long and the route eventually picked up a level contour path around the face of the hill. As usual it didn't strictly keep to the contour and there were some short sharp steep ups to take us to new levels. We were looking for the Everest View Lodge for our tea stop, and had two or three false hopes when making for houses on the edge of the hill with with outstanding views, but each time frustrated. On our last disappointment Brin said had 20 minutes to go, it turned out to be closer to 45 minutes. 

Everest is somewhere in the distance

Once we reached the lodge we could see the Everest range but the only peak we could distinguish, because of the cloud, was the easily recognisable Ama Dablam. We both ordered coffee and got hot milk. When I complained Brin brought the jar of Nescafé and we spooned in the coffee to our taste. We bought some yak (nak actually which is the cow, the yak is the bull) cheese but it didn't taste the same and wasn't as good as the stuff we got here last time. 

It was now 1.5 hours to Junbesi and the track was a true contour path, smooth and level before the final drop to the suspension bridge over the river and into the village. It was good walking now and we could stay together and chat. Not with Brin though, he has taken to quickly walking well ahead of us, resting on a rock and as we caught up he is up an off again. I think I may have offended him somehow!

We stayed at the same lodge as previously, the Apple Farm Guest House. It had hot showers indoors and near our room. That was our first stop after dumping our bags and we felt much better afterwards. For lunch Moira had fried rice with vegetables and I shared some of it. Also we bought a packet of biscuits to have with our coffee. There were three Israeli lads who had come over Lamjura La this morning and were gorging themselves on food. Maybe that's what wrong with us, not eating enough.

It was cold and we spent the afternoon in bed reading. There was a fire in the dining room when we went down for dinner. The place was crowded with a large party of Australians and a group who were camping outside but eating in the restaurant. Moira had the Dahl baht for her meal while I risked the chicken fried momo, it wasn't too bad and my stomach survived. We were going to sit on after dinner and read but it was very noisy and crowded so headed for bed instead.