Annnnd, once again, it's taken me forever to get back and update this....must. get. back. into. blogging. haha....
I guess I've just been busy...running up Mt. Diablo, traveling back to Buffalo for mom's birthday, working on a bunch of stuff for my new job, signing up for a 50k run in august. And, our lead Sherpa from our Nepal trip came to San Francisco to bring his son to school. We were able to meet him for dinner, so we took him to Sam's Chowder House - gave him his first experience with chowder, halibut, and key lime pie. So much fun and so great to see him.
Anyway....on to the end of the trek....
And, we're back in Kathmandu...it seems like, just like that - it's over.
After dinner last night was pretty much a goodbye party. We had lodge food for dinner, and it made us really, really thankful for our cooks on the trek. Once we were done eating, the entire team came in to say goodbye and get their tips. We got to see the kitchen boy who received the coat Brian donated. He was so happy and proud of his new jacket - he had never had one before. One of the guides took my shoes, I'm glad someone was able to use them, even though they're small. As we gave each of the groups their tips (kitchen boys, guides, porters, etc.), they came around and shook hands and gave hugs - some really emotional moments.
We finished the night with a few rounds of sherpa alcohol our guide bought for us, Everest beer, and a championship round of dominos. A great ending to a great trip, and I still can't believe it's over.
As we left this morning, all of the porters and kitchen boys ran out of the kitchen tent to wish us one final goodbye. As we walked further up the road to the airport, the guides met us to wish us goodbye as well. A few more powerful moments as we followed our head guide to the airport. After weighing all of our luggage and getting tickets, we bid farewell to him and our sidar. He wished us well and told us he'd see us in San Francisco.
The flight out of Lukla wasn't nearly as terrifying as the flight in. Granted, we had to wait for them to clean up a bunch of popcorn kernels (the flight before us was carrying people and supplies)...quite funny actually. Then, we were off - down the downhill runway, kind of like a roller coaster. Our final guide got us to our van at the Kathmandu airport, and then we dropped him off at home on the way to the hotel, officially saying goodbye to the final person from the trek.
Now that I've been back for awhile, and had more time to reflect, I've realized how awesome all of this really was. It seemed like each day kicked my butt more than the one before, and I truly didn't think I could do it again, climb one more hill or one more flight of stone steps. But, then I did...and I made it through the next day, and the one after that too.
The cough eventually went away, I got over the sick, and the ankle has pretty much healed. But, the memories will last a life time, and the photos longer than that. I'll never forget Mr. Bean turning around at the top of Kalapatthar and telling me that I had two more steps to go. My smiling photo at the top will forever remind me that I can do things I thought I couldn't.
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