Kathmandu to Jiri

Up early again this morning, we finished last minute packing, had breakfast and loaded up the four of us, Ramesh (our guide), two porters and the driver in an Indian-made  Mathindra land-cruiser type

Through Kathmandu we headed east through heavy traffic.

Kathmandu elevation was approx 4200 feet. We got as high as 5500 feet as we crossed a couple of small ranges then headed downhill following the Kochi River until at about 1500 feet we crossed the river and headed back uphill.

 Tire change time slows the line. 

 It was a long drop to the river with nary a guardrail in sight.

After lunch stop got nack back into the sardine can.

The road from Kathmandu was a nice two lane that reduced to a wide one lane and eventually to one partial lane. 

 Open air bus full of kids. 

Glad I wasn't driving. He stopped, we stopped, we backed up and up the bank at a low spot, the truck drive by and we got back on the road.

Driving on roads like this, we went over the pass at 8000 feet then back down to Jiri at 6000 feet. Temps ranged from mid-eighties to 101.5 degrees in the river valley to 74 in Jiri when we got there at 1730.

Checked into our abode, got cleaned up and had dinner.  I had dal baht for lunch with an extra bowl of lentil soup and wasn't too hungry so ordered Tibetan bread with jam and a bowl of onion soup for dinner.