We have a fairly late start (8:30am) from Sonam Lodge in Pangboche as we don't have far to go today - only as far as Tengboche. It's a brilliantly sunny morning for the walk which, as we know from the walk up three days ago, is 'flat on average'.
I couldn't resist taking a picture of the family's accomodation at the lodge before we left. The outer cladding is 4 gallon kerosene cans which have been opened up and flattened out.
Family dwelling at Sonam Lodge, PangbocheLhotse in the background
The first part of the walk today is downhill towards the river crossing. There we have to wait for Yak trains and porters to cross but we are not in any hurry. After the river crossing the path is relatively level as it passes through Debuche and Rhododendron, Pine and Birch forest. The cloud is low over the valley but it is still quite pleasant, although cooling rapidly.
Mani stone wall beside the path near Debuche
There is a porter resting under that load of timber!The recently rebuilt stone pathway soon passes and it is back among the trees for
the slow haul up to Tengboche, which we reached after about 1 hour and 50 minutes of walking.
I have a brief lie down before lunch but I I have chilled down quite a lot so the down jacket got its second usage.
Lunch of real chicken soup and a boiled egg is very welcome and tasty. Afterwards we visit the Eco-Centre attached to the monastery and also the monastery itself.
Rear view of the Monastery at TengbocheBack at the lodge we learn that the 'unseasonal' cloudy weather has sealed in Lukla and there haven't been any flights in or out for 4 days.
Today I'm still getting a bit of chest pain but this is mainly when 'under load' - i.e. going uphill.
At evening the pedometer reads 7137, O2 is at 84% and pulse is 64.
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