Final trek day!

Rick woke up feeling good today so need need for a "horse on hire". I had a horrible sleep—there was a huge thunder and lightening storm during the night and I had a high temperature that finally broke. Overall, I'd say we're ready to get on the plane back to Kathmandu. Just need to get this last 4-5 hour trek over with.

Karma's wife presents us each with a Buddhist blessing scarf, wishing us good luck and goodbye.

We set off with the knowledge that a good portion of today's trek will be uphill.

Rick is back to taking pictures so we know he's feeling much better. Not much to tell about this day except that seemed short (compared to a lot of the other days).One thing that we do notice is the amount of happy, smiling people on this leg of the trek, They are all fresh from the airport and are starting their first day of trekking...no Everest Walking Dead here.

We arrive in Lukla, settle into our room for the night, then head out in search of fresh ground coffee. Karma and our porter join us at the bakery. We find out that our porter is heading back to base camp to start hauling gear out of the camp. When we ask how long it will take him to reach base camp unburdened, he replies 1 and a half days. We're not sure if this is true or just bravado but we're impressed nonetheless.

After dinner, we take advantage of the power outlets in the dinning area to recharge the lap top and cell phone. We end up speaking to a fellow trekker there who informs us that a general strike has been declared all across Nepal in protest of the new constitution. We'd been advised that could happen at time during our trip, we just aren't sure how we'll be effected. Will we be able to get a drive form the airport, is the hotel still open, will there be any restaurants open, and what about our arranged driver from Kathmandu to Lumbini (or the hotel in Chtitwan)? WE watch the news that night in the teahouse common room to see if we can get some news (we decide not to pay for Internet access this night) The news reports (all in Nepalese) don't look promising—people yelling, broken windows on a press car and some press spokesperson giving a very angry speech (complete with fist in air) All is up in the air until we arrive in Kathmandu tomorrow. Our fingers (and toes) are crossed.