2024 LCC River Karnali Trip – Nepal
Day 4 – Kohalpur – Dungeswar – Paddling day 1
Today we were on the coach for 5.45am.
We stopped for breakfast en-route and we encountered another landslide on a bend where big boulders on both sides of the road made for a gap just a little too narrow for our bus. After much manoeuvring, we finally got through without a scratch.
Just as it started getting hot, we arrived at Dungeswar where we were told that the road down to the river was too rough for the bus and we would have to unload everything to take down to the river. Fortunately, the guides were able to procure the use of 2 tractors and trailers for the job and, after helping to unload the bus onto the trailers, we only had to carry our own paddling kit down to the river.
At the riverside, the trailers were unloaded, the rafts inflated and piled high with kit and we each set to getting comfortable in our kayaks. Meanwhile lunch was prepared for us on the riverside.
After lunch and a briefing (one for the raft and one for the kayakers), we set off for our first day on the River Karnali.
In total, we were a group of 13 kayakers (me, Martin, Keith, Stuart, 6 Chinese guys, 1 Chinese girl, and 2 safety kayakers guides, Naresh/Norris and Manoj) and 3 rafts (one paddled by Sue, Colin, 2 Canadian women, 2 Chinese guys, the lead guide Calu and a junior guide, Dipesh (?), and 2 gear rafts, paddled by Jange and our chef for the trip, Govi (pronounced Go-be). Be assured we always made sure we knew where Govi’s food raft was!
We were soon into big bouncy fun rapids with big wave trains testing our balance and giving us a soaking. I was smiling from ear to ear. These rapids were pretty straightforward and easy, just big and bouncy.
After an hour and a half on the water, we came to our first night’s camp. We unloaded the rafts and set up our tents while the guides set up toilets, a kitchen, a table and washing up facilities.
It wasn’t long before hot water, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, squash and a snack (fresh popcorn) were on the table, and after some time to relax and enjoy the camp, dinner was served in the form of spaghetti bolognese with both meaty and vegetarian options.
