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Up early again, a quick breakfast of bread and honey and out the door. The walk to the mountain centre is steep so it was hard work walking up the hill with two bags one full of books. I struggled pass the monkeys happily munching on what ever food they had found in the bins. Shervin got to the centre quicker than me and returned to help me with my extra bag.
At the centre we met with our trekking companions. Tets a tall Japanese Australian, and three girls from Delhi, Kanuka, Shilpa and Shela. On our first two days we were also going to accompany the centre's activity group. A group of about 16 boys who were on the a two week activity course.
Before we left we were given our mountain awareness briefing. It was amusing how the boys had to line up military fashion and even be commanded to stand at ease. The briefing was given and perfectly acted out by the centre leader.
The briefing over and off we went the girls in front, the boys next and us last with our guide Ahish. The walk was gentle and we passed the Dal lake which we had visited the other day and stopped just as I felt we were getting started. The walk was down hill and we arrived at our campsite just after midday.
The campsite was set beside the river and below a hamlet. The site was large and used by the centre and the military. The river below, although the water was low still roared pass us. I could imagine the river being a torrent in the monsoon season as the whole river bed was strewn with large boulders.
That was our walking over for the day. We just basked in the warm afternoon sun waiting for our lunch. That came and was Dal, rice and roti. That was going to be our staple diet for the next four days, it was tasty so this didn't bother me.
After lunch we basked while the boys were instructed how to put up a tent. Our tent a six manner was already up so we were let off this activity. The tents though were the old style triangular shaped made of heavy canvas. I am glad we did not have to carry our tents. It certainly is an art to put them up none of these 20 sec self erecting tents from Decathlon here.
While the boys were putting up the tents Tets and I went for a little walk. There was a road that ran parallel to the river which we followed, this being in inspiring we climbed down the bank a distance of 20 metres a hopped across the river using the boulders. I started to get cocky and take more risks when I slipped and one foot went into the water. This proved my boots were good against the water as i did not feel a drop of water. Chastened I was more careful when we had to cross back again to get to the campsite.
Then we just killed time until dinner, which was dal, rice and roti. Then it was bed time so we were in bed by 9pm.
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