Kenja to Goyem

Saturday, May 12th 5,230 feet 0715

During our walk yesterday,  we saw what looked like our nettles.  Ramesh said that, indeed they were nettles and, like us, they eat them or use in infusions. He mentioned it to our host and they picked nettles and made me a nettle garlic soup for dinner. It was thick with nettles and corn flour.

Chopped nettles and garlic on the left are for my special soup. In addition to the soup I had vegetable fried rice and ginger tea. Earlier I watched the cook pound a piece of ginger in a wooden mortar and pestle to extract the juice.

Our room last night was about 5x8 feet, with just enough room for two small beds.  Mike and I had to take turns getting undressed and into bed. There was a thin (1") piece of soft foam over the boards so it was a hard bed. Being tired made it feel good and I got a good night's sleep.

We wanted to get an early start this morning so we packed up, ate breakfast (porridge w/ raisins for me) and departed Riverside guest house at 0715.  Departing elevation was 5230 feet.

We went uphill pretty much all day.

Not long after we started we came around a switchback and had a dazzling view of Dudh Kunda peak.

At a rest stop we met this couple who have a teahouse. Not much business now since many people fly to Lukla to start their trek. They had these beautiful lilies just over the wall.

This young man carried a good load of hay from the upper fields down to the family's animals.

At the bottom edge of the rhododendron forest the blooms were finished, but we saw plenty as we progressed up the hill. The rhodys were all sizes but most were impressive trees.

Haven't had cell reception for two days so I'm writing these updates as memos intending to post them when cell reception improves. Each memo has limited space and I'm about out on this one so will continue in another post.