Maccha Khola to Jagat – The Mountains Falling Down (3rd blog today)

I had the squits and it seriously weakened me. I had my omelette but not my chapatis. The rain had been heavy during the night and the river which was ok for fishing yesterday was a torrent of mud. The landslides were no longer objects of interest, they were happening in the here and now and had messed up the track badly. Three people running towards us and said that we had to run as the rocks were falling. We legged it as fast as we could and looked back with relief.

Shortly afterwards two coppers came towards us. They’d been sent up to check out an imminent landslide. They told us to be really careful if we were taking the trail. We did and we were. The fastest we could go but the trail was one mass of fallen rocks and earth. Bhim followed me, he usually leads, looking for rocks falling on to me. Looking after me. Good lad.

And we made it to Tatopani, a haven away from landslides for a while with springs of hot water pouring out of the rocks.

We stopped for a well earned cup of tea and then set off again on the track to hanging rock (for fans of westerns).

The rain was continuing but lighter. I was soaked as well as tired out but a long way to go uphill yet.

We cracked on for miles, crossing the river on one of those great swingers, and climbed on a rough track for a couple of hours with the river coming towards us on our left

and a real raging torrent up on high above us.

What a country. Full of pain for the elderly like me and full of fun for the young. Why do you do this then Dave? Because it’s there. How long do you think you would last in this river? 10 seconds?

Passing over the top of the notch, where the water plunged below, the landscape above was flatter for a while.

We trekked up the right bank, looking up on the photo above, and finally crossed back over the river higher up, with a magnificent view back down.

And eventually made it to our destination – Jagat. I was exhausted, soaked and ready for a shower. And the tea house, in pink on the right, had a hot one.

And a beautiful view from my corridor window was stunning.

Night night.