I think I am in trouble

Happy Monday. I'm sitting by the pool waiting for the sun to rise. Crazy sounds all around; crows and dogs close by and motorcycles in the distance. A strong smell of smog and smoke is hanging in the air. There is a hotel worker keeping close watch. He clearly is waiting for me to ignore the sign that says "Pool open from. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m." Someone must have warned him about me.

The group got together for the first time last night. I think I am in trouble. I mentioned in my prior post that Nick owns three mountain bikes and travels to different countries to race. Tim and Stephen, also Brits, are avid bikers too. Tim was on a trip here ten years ago. On that visit he rode for 21 days and on some days surpassed altitudes of 17,000 feet. 17,000 feet! That's a few thousand feet higher than the highest point in the Rockies. I think the only part of the United States higher than that is Mt. McKinley in Alaska. Yikes! I have only been on a mountain bike twice in my life. What have I gotten myself into?

Our trip leader's name is Pramod. He's been doing these adventures for 20 years. He does about ten a year and leads people through the Himalayas in Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan. Many, like the one that Tim was, require that you acclimate for a couple of days before proceeding past 14K feet. On some you need to carry your bike across jagged, icy and otherwise unridable paths. Maybe next year.

Pramod's English is a bit difficult to understand. I'm hoping that it will get easier? If you want to read about the small family-run company that Pramod works, see http://www.himalayaexpeditions.com/home#mountain_biking .

Here in Kathmandu the signs of April's earthquake are everywhere, including at our hotel, the Shanker. The hotel is a palace-like place that occupies many acres and is accessible only through a long driveway from the major road. Unfortunately the facade


is covered with construction canvas. A team of people is repairing the structural earthquake damage to the front of the building.

Beyond the obvious infrastructural damage, the Nepal economy has also been hit hard. This country is reliant on visitors and since April, tourism has all but evaporated. There are only four of us on this trip. Normally there would be two to three times that. We have Pramod as our leader and two other people driving our support van. It's difficult to imagine how they can make it financially viable with only four of us.

I spoiled myself with an hour massage yesterday. My most significant challenge of the day was trying to decide what type to get.
From the menu;
AYURVEDIC MASSAGE
TREKKER'S MASSAGE
SPINAL MASSAGE
DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE
AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE
SWEDISH MASSAGE
HEAD AND SHOULDER
REFLEXOLOGY

Each is available in 60, 90 and 120 minutes. I didn't know what any of them were so I winged it. I asked for the 60 minute Swedish. It was terrific. No better way to get the muscles ready for ten challenging days on a bike. When we return, I just might opt for the two hour one.

Today we have our formal tour of the city. It will be nice to learn a few things about the place rather than just wander and soak in the environs.

Looking forward to it.

G.






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Location:Kathmandu,Nepal