3 October
Morning dawned and as we opened the tent flaps, and gazed across the grass banks upon which the tents were pitched, we beheld the magnificance of the Trishuli River as it rushed past the camp, still clothed by the early morning mist, which would, in a few hours, be burned off by a very hot Nepali sun. A splendid view, a river promising challenge and enigmatic in the great power of the fast flowing waters. An artery of Nepal which rises in the northern mountains of the Langtang National Park and meeets with two other rivers, namely the Kaligandaki and the Marsyangdi River, its name means trident which is the three pronged spear of a Nepalese god. The summer monsoons had passed but there was still much water in the river and the consensus was that the waters were high enough to be considered grade 5 in the rapids. I felt some anxiety because grade 4 holds possibility of a raft overturning. I had rafted in the Zambesi but that was some ten years ago and today's rafting would need some courage!
The day began with Smadal's early morning gentle yoga class on the beach beside the river. That was quite a special experience. Following a light breakfast we set off by coach to where it was deemed a safe place to start the rafting. We were briefed by the group of rafters who covered what to do and what not to do. In life jackets and helmets we were in for the proverbal penny! What a beautiful thing to have quiet times to enjoy the vegetation of the mountains between which the river flowed, to gently float in calm waters, where some played as they took a dip, to look above at school children and adults, often colourful and with parasols held aloft, all about their daily business. As the locals crossed the suspension bridges above, we heard the cheerful greeting "Namastay" called to us in our fast moving rafts below. Meeting rapids brought the call from the skip, seated in the rear, to pull hard and though waves were high, to keep above the waves meant hard pulling with sustained determination. To avoid being washed off the raft required a quick expectant eye and a fast sink of ones torso down into the raft, only to spring up again and resume strong rowing. Team work was critical, and there was no time or possibility to stop for anyone washed over the edge of the raft. Such events were met with a canoe which was manned by a strong and experienced man who quickly pulled the reluctant swimmer to safety and loaded her on to the nearest steady raft. We lost two members, Hilary who had been seated in the front and Marian behind her. Marian was returned fairly soon after her dip. I gasped as I did not see Hilary again and did not want to panic but told our man that we were still one person short. He said "I know" and nothing more but I could see that there was no going back. A few moments later, to my relief, I saw my precious girl sitting with a broad smile in a raft some way down the river. When and how all that had happened, I did not see, such was the fury and strength of the rapids.
We covered 22km and were on the water for 5 hours. We all arrived back at the Royal Beach Camp with loud cheers as each raft came ashore. Legs seemed most burnt, the excitement and sense of satisfaction was palpable. We rested awhile and I was pleased to see Hilary and others like her were apparently none the worse for the experience of a tumble in the rapids some hours before. Marian claimed to have swallowed half of the Trishuli River! (See http:// wwwXtriptravel.com for a link to video clips)
We lunched on salads and plenty of starches as was becoming the trend it seemed. Showers were open or under thatch but cold and refreshing. Great stuff! We walked up the hill which we descended the evening before. On a small bed to the side of the path was an ox pulling a simple plough in a circle for the farmer to plant his crop on a handkerchief of ground, and I was amazed at how traditional rural life still was. Michelle, ahead of me, I admired, as she lithsomely went up the hill like a mountain goat while I puffed behind her with a stick for support.
One day in tents with the mosquitoes and other insects was perhaps enough. Our bus ride would be a good few hours as it head for Pohhara with, a good hotel! There were still great things to come. We were never quite sure exactly what these were to be! Suzi, our tour leader, definitely liked the element of surprise!
mmm A bit like school perhaps, but so what, this was a trip with a difference, and we had all bought into the idea and it was proving to be more than interesting it was, a challenge and fun!
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| Trishuli River: Cho Cho, from the tent beside ours, in the early morning light. |
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