The final day of my Annapurna Trek was pretty straightforward. Up early for breakfast, down another steep staircase all the was to the river to cross a bridge, back up the other side, rinse, and repeat. Eventually our track widened to a roadway where a half dozen 4wd vehicles hung around waiting for tired hikers to ferry out. We passed by them and continued to hike on the road as it gradually just became one long decline back along the river to where we started 5 days ago.
Overall, quite a spectacular hike. It was also very interesting also to pass through all the villages and see how many Nepalese earn their keep. Now back in Pokhara, in my choice room with spectacular views, my legs are very sore and sick of stairs! I do have a bathtub which I should put to use.
One bit of irony from the experience of passing through countless villages that rely on spring water to drink and mules for deliveries: they always had power 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Here in Pokhara I’ve been back now for six hours and still now power. It seems to be off more than its on. How to the villages get power? They generate their own through micro-hydroelectric generators that use channelled water from nearby streams. We passed quite a few of them. Each required a substantial amount of work to set up and each could only power about 40 homes, but they are very lucky to have power when they need it.
