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11/01/2014
This was the biggest and hardest day of the trek for me. Honestly killed me. After a big bowl of porridge and copious amounts of sugar thrown in for good measure we left the guesthouse at 7:20am. We talked through many little villages which all cater for the Annapurna trekkers. We also passed a massive construction effort by a Chinese firm who are building a dam in the area. There was hundreds of workers, all manning machinery and working away. It was still early doors and it wouldn't be finished for years. We kept on walking for a few more hours and ascended a massive incline which really tested the legs. Scoffed a couple of my bananas which I had bought the previous day as well as some of my supplies for energy. At the top we reached our first checkpoint, a small shed with a guy in it who checked our TIMs card and signed us in. On we pressed and we came to an amazing vantage point as we started to descend with gave stunning views into the valley and the accompanying rice fields built into the side of the mountain. We stopped for the obligatory photo. We kept on walking for a few more hours and reached out lunch stop. There was a big hike in prices and we settled for some packet noodles which where actually pretty good. Paid for some wifi and informed the folks I was ok, safe and sound. Also got passed by the chilli girl as we ate, but soon overtook her later as we ascended once more. Again putting a massive effort on the muscles.
On and on the walking went. The crossed a bridge a started a massive vertical ascent, by this time it was getting nearer the end of the day and all the walking was really starting to take its toll. Lawrence with his micro light pack were flying through it, but I just couldn't keep up as I started to feel my burn and feel shaky as I pushed myself up the mountain, stepping up huge boulders to progress. I started to feel worried my legs would give in and I would fall off the mountain side. I was really questioning what is the point of going this hard, as it will only backfire on me in the longrun and we will have to go slower. The guide said it would take us 2 hours to get to Tal and it was only half an hour in and I was dying. It was the worst possible feeling. I soon got overtook my two Americans who them also were flying compared to me. After some gargantuan effort I eventually made it to the top, where Lawrence was waiting for me. Still we walked however, but after five mins I rounded a corner and there nestled on the valley floor was a small village…. TAL! I'd honestly never felt happier. I slowly hobbled down and we found a nice place with an en suite with wifi and we grabbled a big dhal bhat as a treat, despite its hefty price tag.
Later on me and Lawrence had a bit of an argument as I tried to stress it was too much, and was pointless to burn out like that. He then whipped out all this BS shpiel of comparing it with all his endless treks in South America, and asking me what I would do there, as there is no villages along the way and I would have 'no outs'. I felt well pissed off as he was asking me to keep up when I had a bag which weighed about double of his, and in no way was it a level playing field.
Later on I went for a walk and tried to warm-down so my muscles didn't tighten up. 7:20 to 5:00…. Big big big day of trekking!!!! All over up and down mountains. Never again.
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