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Day 5 - Rest day

12/10/2013 14:04
Really needed a good nights sleep last night after yesterday's gruelling walk. The local dog had other ideas, and kept most of us up a lot of the night. Because of this there were a lot of tired and grumpy people in the camp this morning.
 
The village we stopped in last night was called Namche bazaar. Really beautiful place, but weird, one minute you're walking round a mountain at about 2500m and the next minute you see a village with a school, shops, a hospital and a lovely cake shop!!
 
Today was rest day... Well sort off!! After breakfast we had a 4 hour walk towards our next destination (Kyanguma). It was all worth while. From a viewing point we got our first proper sight of Mount Everest, and what a sight. I'm not sure people fully understand how big it really is. We were high and still struggled to catch our breath, and this just dwarfed us. Awesome!!!!
 
So we arrived in Kyanguma and lunch time, had something to eat. Then had the afternoon to chill. Really was needed. Had our first shower in three days and now feel human again. For now! Roll on tomorrow.
 
Mr Campbell

Day 4

12/10/2013 14:01
I mentioned in my last blog that because of the climb today there was a serious risk of altitude sickness. I wasn't wrong!!! About half of the group felt some kind of symptoms today and tonight. Dizziness, headaches, sickness and loss of appetite, the doctors with us had a busy night. Luckily Josh and myself were fine.
 
Because of today's trek I am extremely tired, I'm gonna have to make this a short one.
 
We walked for over eight hours today and climbed over 2500m. I will attach the pictures, the views were spectacular. On the way we had to cross a number of robe bridges, some extremely high, again I've taken pictures.
 
Nearing the end of the trek things were hard going. You hear stories about the difficulties of walking in altitude, because of the lack of oxygen in the air. Until now I didn't appreciate it. For the last hour or two we had to walk at snails pace, and even at that pace everyone was finding it hard to take breath.
 
It was a massive relief when we reached the camp and had our dinner, hot drink, game of cards and now bed time.
 
Night all
 
Mr Campbell
 
Ps 'happy birthday dad' sorry couldn't ring you today

Flaming internet

12/10/2013 13:56
Flaming internet!!!
 
Sorry folks but the internet access isn't as good as some people made out. I'll still be keeping a diary of events but am a bit unsure as to when I can put them on.
 
On a personal note, Laura tells me that St Andrews school are looking at the blog and looking at the places I am visiting. This really picked me up and I will try and get some videos to show you in class.
 
Isabelle, daddy misses you so much. Love you to the moon and back and I will see you soon.

Day 3 - the adventure really begins

12/10/2013 13:53
 
After pretty much two days of travelling and waiting in lines, today felt like the adventure was just beginning.
 
Still dark, we were woke up in our tents at 5 o'clock in the morning, and told to reduce the weight in our bags by half because the plane we were flying in today were much smaller than the others we'd been in (they weren't wrong)!!!
 
After breakfast we got on the coach and headed back to Katmandu airport. Although we'd seen Katmandu before we were still shocked at the sight (the one the postcards don't show). Litter, noise, half finished houses, and pollution seemed to be everywhere. With all this in mind Josh and myself were amazed  at how the people just continued to be happy and polite. I guess we all sometimes take the things we have for granted.
 
Anyway we arrived at the internal flight section and was met by what only can be described as utter chaos. People running, shouting, pushing and nearly fighting. All in a very small, very hot basic room.
 
After what seemed like an eternity we were split up into three groups and our group were first to board. The plane was tiny and only just squeezed 16 on. In the air it seemed like we could feel every bit of wind that hit us. The turbulence was pretty scary! Not that Josh would know as he was asleep most of the journey.
 
For those of you that don't know. The airport we were flying to (Lukla) is one of the most dangerous in the world. On one end of its short runway is a huge drop and at the other end is a brick wall. It's one of those things you have to see to believe.
 
Lukla itself was a beautiful place, full of small shops, guest houses, tea houses, Trekkers and YAKS! (Big cows with massive horns).
 
So our trekking  has started. We did a nice leisurely 2 hour walk then stopped for dinner. After dinner the trek became a little more serious and real. First the group came across one of the Yaks that seemed to be rather upset. It was on its own and some of the straps used for carrying the equipment has fallen down. The paths were narrow and the yak decided to buck, and charge us!!!! Some of the group had a very lucky escape as the sherpa's came to the rescue not before everyone had to dive out of the way.
 
The yak incident had put us behind schedular and during the last hour we needed our head torches to navigate to the next camping site. The problem with this was that to one of our sides there was about a 100m drop into a fast flowing river. We did however manage to get to the camp site, get some supper down us and have an early night.
 
Quite an eventful day really, and another big day planned tomorrow. We will try to scale another 2300m in one day and I've been told it will be tomorrow when altitude sickness kicks in!!!
 
Wish us luck as it can happen to ANYONE.
 
Mr Campbell
 

Day 2....

08/10/2013 07:43

Well just arrived in Delhi, India. We've both hardly had any sleep on the plane and its hot! really hot! on the plus side we've found a Domino's pizza so we have ate. This isnt going to be long as we have no internet and i am trying to type this on a silly little machine in the airport. Hopefully when we get to Katmandu i can get a sim card and spend a little more time.

 

We dont leave the airport here, just got to wait 3 hours then get on a smaller plane to Nepal which is about an hour and half away.

 

anyway got to go will hopefully blog again tomorrow and add some pictures.

 

Mr Campbell

Day 2 cont

08/10/2013 00:00

Day 2 continued......

 

Well we've arrived in Katmandu and it's mental! Some of the driving is horrific, even worse than Mrs Barrett's. We were greeted at the airport by the bbc and lots of other people wanting to see what the fuss was about. Felt like proper celebrities.

 

Well weathers still lovely and tonight we're camping outside a hotel trying to get a good nights sleep before the real adventure tomorrow morning.

 

Bye for now

 

Mr Campbell

And so the trip begins!

07/10/2013 11:06

Well. This is my first installment to the blog, just hope it works. Before I carry on, just a quick note. I'm a PE teacher not an English teacher so I will apologise this one time for my future spelling and punctuation mishaps. Anyway here goes.

 

After some last minute checks, kisses, cuddles, and goodbyes, we're off! It seems like the day has just snuck up on us. One minute we were climbing Snowden with Jack and Mr Codman and now I'm sat on a train on our way to London with Josh telling me the in's and out's of every digger we see. Once in London we'll meet up with the rest of the team then on to India.

 

With a bit of luck we intend to make daily entries to the blog. A bit about where we've been, what we've seen and hopefully add some pictures and videos along the way. 

 

Bye for now

Mr Campbell

 

Josh and Barries Road to everest begins!!!!

17/09/2013 21:00

Updates will be posted here!

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Everest

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