Tonight is our second and last night in Namche Bazaar, so my last blog from the internet cafe until we return here in around 9 or 10 days time. In between, technology permitting, there will be the group’s daily journal, photos and podcast on the main everestrocks page but no more from me.

Today has been another amazing day - sorry to use the word “amazing” so much but it just is.

The day started with Nick Harper playing us a song to set us on our way - a song he’d only finished writing after getting back from the pub last night, where we played the world’s longest game of pool (partly because we were all very average but partly as the table was a bit dodgey - although it’s a major feat that there is a table at all, as everything has to be carried up from Lukla!).

We then hiked up to the Everest View Hotel at 3,850m, up on a ridge with fantastic panoramic views of Everest (but not today due to the cloud cover). It was built by the Japanese as a luxury tourist resort and they helicoptered the punters in to pressurised bedrooms, due to the altitude but apparently the tourists kept dying!

Although we didn’t get to see the views, we were treated to a rendition of Neil Young’s Rockin’ In the Free World by all the artists, which morphed into a singalong Trekking in the Free World in front of a bemused crowd of other trekkers!

Then Nick played a very poignant My Imaginary Friend a song dedicated to his mother who died in 2000 of breast cancer. After the song Mike interviewed a very emotional Nick on camera, who told us all the story and there was hardly a dry eye in the group.

Again the scenery was spectacular but once again different to the previous day. A fairly easier hike up and then a faster hike down for our acclimitisation day. Tomorrow is supposed to be another shortish day but then it gets harder…

And as if we hadn’t had enough excitement, Shannon has managed to organise a gig this evening at one of the pubs and word has been spreading around town - we’re off there now, it’s going to be a blast!

Time to sign off now. Please send us text messages to the group’s sat phone via the website - whilst we won’t be able to reply it is great to hear them each day.

Byeee!

Cheers

Matt