Hey this is TA calling in from day 55. We’re at an elevation of 3820 in a village called Tame and it was a wonderful, delightful easy walk downhill today. Marian had 12 376 steps, 38 floors, 8.5 km. I had 14 563 steps, 38 floors and almost 10 km and Cam had 13 757 steps and a little over 9 km. As we walked down the Bodakosi, we were walking along a historic and current trading route to Tibet. The valley that we were walking down leads to, if you go up, leads to the Yangpo La which is a pass that is 5716 m and it is a trade route historically with Tibet. Still today good’s come over from Tibet and other goods go to Tibet and it is a pass that many folks have (inaudible) from Tibet into Nepal and the pass is located near Choyu which is the 6th highest peak in the world.

In Tame and another village down towards the Namche tama we heard they have been deeply affected by the recent avalanche tragedy on Everest. This area has a long history of supporting mountaineering expeditions. So our thoughts go to all of the families here that lost loved ones. From our beautiful grassy camping spot, we’re not having snow or rock tonight, we have a beautiful view of Tamseku and Tantega and those folks that have been to Namche will be familiar with both of those peaks.

We walked beside the Bodakosi this morning and it will join the Dudh Khosi below Namche. Dudh as you may recall means milk so Dudh kosi means milk. So Dudh Khosi means milk river and it is called that because of the glacial silt that is present in the water. It gives it a bit of a milky appearance sort of a tealy blue grey kind of an appearance.

Here in Tame there is a micro-hydro project that provides electricity to Tame and neighbouring villages so lots of folks, our staff and things have been trying to get phones charged up and things like that. We’ve been using our solar panels today to get our camera batteries all recharged for our last section. Tonight is our last night with our section 2 mates. Bill and Paul and Ed will be returning with Judah and Balrum to Namche tomorrow and then down valley towards Lukla and myself and Cam and Marian and Ray will be heading towards the Tashi Lapsa and over that into the Raoling Valley and I look forward to that because I have been thinking and trying to get to the Raoling Valley for about a decade now. So that will be pretty exciting.

We’ve just come down almost 1500 m and over the next two days, two to three days will gain 2000 m back up so we’re definitely feeling a little bit like Yo Yo’s, but last night’s sleep at 4200 m was fabulous and this little visit to low, relatively low, altitude will give all of us a chance to recharge, to eat well and to sleep well.

So that is the report here from day 55 on the great big walk. Hopefully we’ve gotten out for a walk, a roll, a run. Anything that makes you happy and gets you active and we will catch you from tomorrow. It will be a find your fit Friday tomorrow so stay tuned and actually I think we may have a milestone for you tomorrow.Alright. Thanks. Take care. Bye bye!

Total Steps for TA: 14 563 steps, 38 floors

Total Steps for Marian: 12 376 steps, 38 floors

Total Distance for TA: 10 km

Total Distance for Marian: 8.5 km

Great Big Walk acknowledges the support of the Memorial University of Newfoundland Quick Start Fund for Public Engagement in making these updates from the field possible.