Day 2 - Hille to Ghorepani, oh and did I mention 4000 steps up to Ulleri?

Had a good rest, getting my packing systems sorted. We have to be up and have our big pack ready before a breakfast at 7, walking at 8. The girls load their little pack into the top of the big pack.

 Today kicked off with crossing a beautiful river, and then 4000 stone steps up to our morning tea spot! Little did I know that this would become a familiar pattern. In nepal you cant follow ride lines so often can see your destination across the valley but must do an our down, cross the river, and then up you go. I started my mantra of steeping up, and heard the words that would become my refrain, Bistari Bistari ( not its not Bastard Bastard, it means slowly slowly).





Ulleri is a beautiful village surrounded by rice terraces which look like they have been carved from moss.



After morning tea ( Ginger Lemon Honey was to become a favourite)  we entered our first beautiful forest, very Lord of the Rings, with lush trees, and bight blue Himalayan violets lining the track.



 Rhododendrons and Magnolias like trees fill the forest,



and waterfalls abound.



By the time we reached Ghorepani we were tired, and had to climb a steep 300 m up across the village to get to our lodge! Bistari Bistari! 3 to a room tonight, and starting to get a bit colder as we 2874m, we have trekked west and higher ( will go up tomorrow morning and then down) to help with our acclimatization  The Snowlands Tea house was nice and warm (the mess hall had a fire!) . And great views!

This village was originally a water stop for the horses of early traders. Pani is Nepalese for water, and Ghora means horse. Nowadays the preferred fluid for trekers is beer!

The first rumblings of what was to come tummy wise began here. Tommorow is an early ( 4 15 am start) to get to the top of Poon Hill for sunrise!