Monday, 6:30am breakfast and out the door at 7:00 for a 7 hour drive to Pokhara.  There are 12 of us in the van with all our bags tied on top, now the real adventure starts – driving in Nepal.  This is by no means for the faint of heart – these drivers are fearless.  Huge trucks, cars, motorcycles and bicycles vie for their space on the road and our driver navigated like a seasoned professional driver.  The scenery never stopped  amazing us as we drove through rice fields, millet, and corn all growing on perfectly terraced landscapes along steep hill sides.  Finally we arrive at our trail head, Nayapul to start today’s trek.

Today’s trek was more of a stroll through a small market place (see pictures in slide show ) for about 20 minutes to our hotel, The Everest Hotel and Resort.  After tea and biscuits, it’s off to the local art Gallery, “Himalayan Art Gallery”, met the local owner and artist and purchased a few of his watercolors.  He has lived in the tiny village his entire life, starting his own business at 20 and it is going strong 20 years later.   The mountains are teasing us and only a few have peeked up through the clouds, and tomorrow we hope to inch a little closer.  We started our trek in Nayapul and the hotel is in Birethati.  Tomorrow we head across the wire bridge and begin the trek to Ghorepani, about a 6 hour day.