Day 9: Of shoes and stepping

8.7.2016

And again... woke up too early... and then he tells us that we start so late today... the joy is limited. We can have a quick breakfast, but then we are packed with our compressed travel luggage (the rest we can leave at the hotel luckily) into a car that doesn't deserve its name any more than its driver deserves his job title. So we chug along with a rust bucket (feels like it was built in 1945) towards Naya Pul. When we arrive there, the first thing I do is examine my head, which has hit the window several times, which may mainly be due to the disastrous road conditions, but also surely due to poor body tension because I am doing an absolute NO GO - falling asleep - on Nepalese roads! When you see the oncoming traffic on your own (left) side of the road, you should not only be strapped in, but also alert. I am not only not awake, I also can't find a seat belt. Still, we arrive. And we feel about as pale as a Pina Colada fresh from the cocktail shaker - well shaken but generally rather pale.

The journey starts quite leisurely, which surprises me, because after the sprint-like movement in the city, I would have expected a different pace from our guide. We start in Naya Pul (1070m) and in my opinion go quite leisurely to Birethani (1025) and then to Thirke Dunga (1545). Shortly before lunch break, after about 2 hours, Gudi convinces me to consider changing shoes. Up to this point, I am convinced that I have to endure the increasing pain in my left foot: in my opinion, it is only a matter of time before the shoe and foot merge into a solid, leathery unit. When I finally take off my shoes and socks after some time, almost all the skin of my heel comes off. A blister is one thing, an open flesh wound is another. I think if I had walked a little further, even my bone would have seen daylight. Luckily, we have lunch break right away.

After our teabreak, which is largely dedicated to cola, I heroically continue. However, with my (fortunately) alternatively brought Nikes. To be honest, I feel like I'm floating. Although the shoes are also from the "Nike Air" product line, I think that this feeling is more due to the decreasing weight of the pain.

After a ridiculous and otherwise unproblematic four hours, Gudi, Hari, my heel skin (in my pocket - everyone has their own idea of souvenirs) and I arrive in the village. Hetti feels dizzy exactly 15 meters in front of the village. After a short breather and the motivation to witness the fight between the two village dogs live, she also reaches the goal. By the way, the dogs tear each other apart right in front of us and we almost get pulled into the spectacle. The scene is ended by a Nepalese mountain dweller who gives the dogs some hard kicks. By the way: my favourite Rufus wins the fight for alpha male dominance - good Rufus!

Not much else happens on this day. We play cards, eat in peace and get to know some other trekkers, who all turn out to be very nice and communicative. When I shower, and water touches my open heel, I briefly feel like walking along a long tunnel towards a light, but then I decide to go back to the room.

Unfortunately, the evening ends very abruptly with a power failure caused by heavy rain. Secretly, I am already making earthquake rescue plans and wondering if I could survive on the wet tin roof in my boxers. Well then, good night.