Kapti to Bhandar – the old main drag (second blog today)

Thanks Shane. In fact it’s the last main drag, to get ourselves down the rest of the valley and well up the other side, to a place where we can get buses. Yes – roads. Well, not roads but buses all the same. Running on boulders and mud. It’ll be ok. Let’s focus on getting down in one piece, as Dav said on the route down. It’s difficult on steep, muddy drops and slippery rocky surfaces.

The day was looking good as we set off from this unlikely overnight stop. With cobs of sweetcorn dangling from the rafters. Cheers.

It was hotting up, and getting stickier the closer we got down to the valley floor. Another great panorama, but let’s get down.

I’d packed my walking poles and needed support so I found a local branch to help.

We’re aware of the slowly unfolding end of the Fellowship and sadness is tingeing our fatigue. You can get fitter from trekking day after day but don’t expect not to be knackered. And there was still a long way down.

Nir is a great bloke. Which usually preambles a reservation. However his main failing is a grotesque underestimation of the time it will take us to walk from A to B. He estimates for Usain Bolt, not some 68 year old, tubby turd. Sorry – I got carried away with the alliteration again.

We had to start dropping down perpendicular paths (allit.) to avoid the long sweeps of the road. Don’t get excited it’s not a real road.

Dav’s strength is climbing up, but he isn’t as strong at descent. It’s only practice. He’s a bloody good trekker. Strong lad.

Dropping down we began to take paths leading past small farms, which were more easily navigable. When there was grass or other vegetation on the path our grip was far better. And there below us, all of a sudden, was the bottom of the hill and a hydroelectric plant.

Dropping down through dense vegetation Nir told us that these were lychee plants. Pity they weren’t in season. I love em.

Then we crossed the bridge to the other side. We did it, don’t know why the chicken did it.

We stopped for lunch at one of the restaurants that catered for hydroelectric workers. No menu – Dal Bhat or Noodle Soup? Noodle soup – yes, yes, yes, yes!

To quote Spandau Ballet, ‘to cut a long story short’ (thanks Gary), we strained hard up the far side of the valley. Avoiding the road that isn’t a road and taking vertical steps. Well, not vertical, perpendicular I meant. Alright, I said vertical and I can’t take it back. How about this that I can’t take back? Kiss my arse!

This was another long slog. Nearly four hours of complete, steep uphill, then half an hour of a flatter route to Bhandar.

The tea house was most welcome. We were tired now. And the hot shower was the best of the entire trip.

Night night.