Travel Pig

We circled a few times and then had the longest fastest landing ever. Almost scary. Had to sit on the plane for way too long. The couple me behind my seat mate and mine were idiots. Possibly first time fliers. They were up and down the whole time, banging into us, constantly rooting in their bag and they used our seat backs to sit and stand calapulting us up three rows. The woman in front of me would drop her seat back at a moment’s notice and it would slam into my knee. A little better planning next time, Dr., no business, no first class available. Slight possibility on the way back.

So got off the plane to craziness I knew I started to visa process. I applied 6 weeks in advance but they don’t even look at it until it’s two weeks out. They didn’t like my photos so I had to resend. Ater $80 and the angst of waiting, they admitted that it was just them filling in the forms for $80 I still had to pay another $50! Lessons learned.

But which line to choose. I chose “Have tourist Visa”, then moved to “get tourist visa” and back to the first. Neither mattered, I had to pay. I asked if I had to go to the end of the line? He said no, go to the front. I cut in about 4 people back. Got paid sticker and back to which line. People were getting very pushy and smelly, me included!! Finally got though and found baggage claim.OMG…. More craziness. All the flights were delayed and so much luggage coming out of the one hole. It took 90 minutes.

Nimmi was very kind. She took me to the hotel and said see you in the morning. Of course I was now wide awake. I ordered room service, showered and passed out!

So many trekkers, some fancy, some basic. All on a journey. Makes me remember as I did my first and last marathon, you do this as an individual and as a group. Thank you Drew Boomer.

Nimmi will be here shortly to check on my packing. I will explore and try to keep my feet up. Can’t do both at the same time!

Looks like we have a window! Nimmi is being very accommodating. Qatar has kept us on the plane for the past hour with AC but the toilets are full!

Luckily I am reading a good book, Dan Browns latest, “The Secret of Secret’s.”

Wish me luck!

Diverted to Kolkata. We circled the airport at Kathmandu for an hour then diverted. The lightening looked fierce. My guide Nimmi will be on call. This is always interesting, getting everyone off, get luggage get hotel and food voucher and get booked. No direct flights until 5 pm! Others will take 7 hours with stop. It was an extra one hour flight.

Traveling is exciting. Oh and so many crying children!!

Long flight squished in like sardines. I think the flight was only 13 hours. I took a few naps, watched a couple movies, even Wicked, Natalie. The entertainment is a bit modified, it seems. Probably for religious reasons.

Just a transfer in Doha, someone said I had to retrieve my bags so I hope the person here is right.

I meant to put an AirTag in my bag but I forgot. Also forgot to take off my favorite ring. I can’t hike in it so I have to take it off which means a possibility of losing it. Can’t even put it on my neck lay because it’s such cheap gold strand. It always brings me luck and I was worried about not having it. It’s the Aquamarine that I have worn since 1985. It was my Grandmothers. My Grandfather smuggled it into the USA in the 70’s. He didn’t want to pay those taxes.

This airport has a tropical garden in its center! The light shines in and it is easy to breathe because of the humidity. Doha was pretty bleak flying in, everything is sand colored.

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Next leg is to Kathmandu where Nimmi will pick me up and my luggage will be there too!

The flight San Diego to JFK. Four and a half hours. Was short and uneventful. I slept most of it with the help of a1/3 Ambien.

JFK is so old and beat up. The signs to the air tram were pointed the wrong way. Construction was everywhere. San Diego T 1 was lucky to have the room for construction or it was planned better. I walked in all of the gateways trying to decide where to eat. Each gateway had two place open for the 45 some gates. I chose an Irish Pub. Still only breakfast which I am not a fan of. The bar was pretty quiet. I had two Aperol Spritz’s. Good for my anxious stomach, not good for the sugar.

I have tried to upgrade this trip a few time but it has always been full so I at least have window seats.

Just flying over Nottingham UK. It’s 2:30 pm in San.

Lots of waiting around to board. I had taken my two prescribed Diamox and I felt dizzy so I was anxious to get on the plane and sleep. Sometimes the flight attendants will let you sneak in early. I didn’t have to worry about overhead space.

There were many families traveling , especially Indians and Middle Easterner. You could tell the Back Packers and Trekkers. I hate the way people stand so close. I had to stick my backpack between the person behind me so he wouldn’t get so close.

Sitting with a nice Indian couple, had to help them get the people in front of us to keep their chairs forward while we ate. I also helped another could find PSA and a short cut. Becky Geiss has just told me that she needed to help people at the post office so she inspired me to offer help.

Another 5:45 hours, half way through

Will board the plane in about an hour. Just having a little wine and calamari at Prado at the airport. Today, well the whole week was hard to concentrate on anything but this journey. It’s more intense to pack and plan for this, than some of my other trips.

After work and after packing the rest of my things I went to watch the Padres. Too bad that they lost. Spent a few minutes with my daughter, her boyfriend and my friend Becky.

My dog, Paisley and George’s dog knew something was up. All my chores got done at the house. I think all the animals are set and hopefully no invaders will come in. Like the 5 raccoons on my last trip!

Looking at these great photos all day!

Excited, nervous, worried, giddy. So many feelings.

I fly 5.5 hours tonight to JFK, then 5 ish hour layover. Then fly to Doha, Qatar short 3 hour layover and then Kathmandu! Should arrive on October 4, my brother’s Birthday, around 6pm.

I had to check my bag. Kinda makes me nervous. But I can buy everything I need in Kathmandu.

Here’s my last pile of stuff to get in my back pack.

So excited! Time to fly and sleep! Thanks for reading!

I leave the evening of Oct 2. I am pretty much finished packing. I can get just about anything in Kathmandu. Natalie will stop by today to see if I am missing anything. Now it’s just getting my office and house ready to leave for a couple weeks. Arrangements for my sweet dog Paisley have been made. I haven’t see Lloyd the cat in a while. The turtles will hibernate soon and the fish can fend for themselves if needed.

Photos from Hans

Today friends will come over to watch the Green Bay Packers. I will do a little light training this week. I walked 8.5 miles yesterday. I am ready!

Sierras hike was 12.6 grade incline and the whole EBC trail is average 4% grade incline for you nerds like my son!

So many people have asked how I am training for this epic hike to EBC….

I made this decision on March 2nd on a boat with a friend. I suggested that we do this hike. We were both so excited but it wasn’t going to work out with her schedule. I am experienced in Solo Travel, so why not go Solo. My daughter’s boyfriend had a connection of a woman named Nimmi. I contacted her and we decided on dates and itinerary and gear etc. We communicate through WhatsApp. She will be my guide and I will have a porter for my gear. Both are called Sherpa’s but more about that later.

I have been working out with a trainer once or twice a week for years but now I had a different goal. My workouts had been just to keep injuries at bay, now I needed strength and endurance. I work out at Coronado Fitness Club, with Carter, Jake or Chris, and Kevin. They are all very encouraging and excited for me.

So first thing, I needed to grow my hair out. Sorry guys, you don’t understand some things. I wanted to be able to braid my hair during the hike. It’s the longest I have ever had right now. I knew that finger and toe nails have to be short and no polish , so as of today, I will have no more gels or color.

I started walking and biking more in Coronado and hiking our tallest peak in San Diego, Cowles. In June I hiked with my daughter, Natalie at Banff, Alberta Canada. Height 4500 feet. A couple weeks ago I hiked in the Sierras with my son, George. We started at 8000 feet and hiked to 10,000 feet, spent the night and hiked down. This was a total of 6 miles but it was the toughest and most beautiful hike that I have ever experienced. This hike should be about the same as day 2 at EBC.

In Washington DC last week I walked 6-7 miles five days in a row. Shin splints were an issue.

Diet wise, I eat pretty clean at home, not so much out to dinner or at friends houses. I am mostly gluten and sugar free. Now concentrating on proteins like, salmon, chicken, pork and eggs. Veggies always. Adding bone broth, avocado and more simple fruit , like berries

Will start adding carbs in two weeks, like pasta! And decreasing alcohol! Ugg! I like wine.

I have discussed this hike with my GP, Integrative MD and Cardiologist. All are supportive. Cardiologist wanted to come with me!

I just started adding electrolytes and salt. Next week I will be pushing water. I don’t drink very much water but I have been told by Richard Bailey, my daughters Boyfriend, that I will need to drink two liters each morning before I hike, two liters during the hike and two liters after hiking each day. That’s a lot, so I need to get used to that. I prefer wine!

I started doing more breathwork too. I am following the principles of Dr Belisa Vranich. Look her up on YouTube. She makes a lot of sense.

I’ll be hiking more in September in California and Arizona. Finalizing my gear and getting excited

Still left to do….find out why my visa is not ready, find dog/cat/house sitter.

Someone asked about costs:

Guided hike, tea houses, porter and transportation about $2500, flight $1600, visa $80

Still hoping to meet up with my friend from Australia. We will be within 800 meters of each other during the hike. Another friend from Coronado might be doing EBC too.

Thanks for reading. Remember I am not responsible for incorrect sentence structure, grammar or misspellings!