Day 4 Dhaulagiri Circuit - Naura

Yesterday's walk was all about getting used to the regime. Today's felt like the real thing. The trek has really started.
Terraces of rice near Sibang
Personally I feel good.  Had a great night's sleep last night in a tent on my own unspoilt by any lingering sense of guilt at the speed at which I had grabbed possession.

Farming Nepalese style
The walk was 6 hours long and involved crossing the main valley up to Dhaulagiri twice. After climbing 900 metres we ended up at about the same altitude as we started.  The countryside is lovely, similar to yesterday but much more remote.  None of villages can be accessed by vehicles and all of the footpaths are original ancient tracks.
On the trail to Muri
We'd only walked for 30 minutes when we started to get glimpses through the cloud of the snow covered mountains of the Dhaulagiri massif.  On the Mera trek last year I walked for days before seeing mountains of real interest but on this one you start to get points really early on.

The path took us high along the side of the valley through terraces filled with rice and millet before dropping us down to the river and a creaky wooden suspension bridge.  After climbing back up the other side the path followed the valley north along a lovely high contoured trail. After walking for over three hours we arrived at the densely packed and very pretty village of Muri. There were children everywhere watching with interest as we ate our lunch
Muri
The views of Dhaulagiri from the lunch spot - another little playing field above the village - were excellent although the sun was strong and it was hot and very sticky.
Dhaulagiri
After lunch we dropped down to a river which we crossed via a new suspension bridge before climbing up what was a steep path on the other side. Rounding a hill we were now on the north facing side of a very deep valley and the terraces disappeared and the trail dropped into what I guess is Himalayan forest.

The path then took us down a hill and along the side a of river full of crashing white water. After following this for a few hundred metres, and passing the Swiss group, we arrived at the campsite.  The location, on a grassy ledge set above the village was perfect and one of the prettiest I have stayed in.
Campsite at Naura
One the campsite's special features was a suspended hose pipe - a perfect outdoor shower.  After a hot sweaty day I managed to get clean.  The only downside was my first ever encounter with a leech (two actually).

After a good day's walk it was clear that everyone was feeling pleased with themselves and keen to chat and drink beer in what was the perfect location.  It felt like we had all known each other for years.

The day was wrapped up by entertainment provided by local villagers who were raising money for a school.  The dancing girls did a pretty good job not matched I'm afraid by the efforts of dancing trekkers (a particularly clumsy variant of the dancing dads genre).  All in all a good day.

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