Typing from a wee internet cafe above the dusty, noisy, dirty streets of Kathmandu. This is an impressively mixed place - opulence next to real poverty. Dusty calves sorting their way through rubbish at the side of the bustling streets and expensive jewellery shops on every other corner. Flights out were bearable though I did get a touch of food poisoning from the chicken on the first Jet Airways flight to Delhi which was not pleasant but gladly passed swiftly enough. Arriving in Nepal reminds me of Cyprus as it used to be when I was a child but with a Buddhist and Hindu touch instead of the Greek orthodox. Shaleish, our guide, took us out for a very good Nepalese meal last night where the dancing was a bit overdone but the food was good. ... read more

I leave from here tomorrow so it'll actually feel like the adventure begins tomorrow evening. Have spent the evening trying to work out how to get all the kit to fit - not easy but I'm close (although I am taking a second bag with me to leave in Kathmandu with some clean bits for when I return from the trek so that'll make life a wee bit easier). Still not convinced I have everything I need but I'll only find out once I'm out there I guess. I hope to get a chance to check in here at least briefly once I arrive in Kathmandu so, unless I feel driven to scribble anything tomorrow / Friday morning, Saturday/Sunday from Kathmandu is likely to be the next update. Familial types, when mum gets worried, remind her ... read more

I'm not in Betws-y-coed, but close by - the Tyn-y-coed in Capel Curig. Have just added a map to this entry. Wish there was a way to highlight the bits that are driving as opposed to the bits that are hiking. Guess I'll have to leave that to your powers of deduction, if there's no road, it's probably hiking ;-) So, the day dawned with patchy sunshine and cloud dangling on the hills at about 1800ft. Every summit on today's trek is above 2000ft so there's likely to be some navigation in cloud. But I set off with confidence high that the forecast will be right and the clouds will either lift or burn off by midday. 9am start from Bethania and I'm following the trail known as the Watkin path - a "round the back" ... read more

Less than two weeks to go. Sore knees again but not unusually so. This is supposed to be a weekend off / social. Despite that, I managed a few miles in the open air today but progress was rather slow. The week's endeavours are humble though: * Monday night - football - good game, good goal, good win, bad right ankle made a wee bit worse than it was on return from Glasgwm * Tuesday was a slave to exhaustion and hoping to allow ankle to recover a bit * Wednesday out running again and a thousand steps on return - ankle just about ok * Thursday rest - ankle crunchy * Friday - a welcome social escape to some kind of reality in the Cotswolds And so it's Saturday. Somehow, I need to work even ... read more

Grey, steely, still, eerie day. Cloud cover near 100% but cloudbase is high so circuit around and including Cadair Idris completed. A bit too busy for my liking on the way up and on the summit of Cadair Idris itself. Had to politely inform the couple who were about to follow me on my "extend the trek" circuit of the lake (Llyn) that they were going the wrong way if they were heading for the summit (which they were). Circuit of lake was wonderfully peaceful as nobody else was bothering with it. Very temped to escape up the gully track to the col from the far side of the llyn but decided it might cut the walk short so left it for another day. Completed circuit with a pause to wave back to the frantically waving ... read more