Both Teams are now situated at Coords 27:43.325N 086:43.208E

After an afternoon of sampling the shopping in Namche Bazaar and stuffing our faces most of the Team settled for an early night. We are now above 3500 mts and the air is getting thinner. Today we arose early with the usual 0630 wake up and Tea in Bed by our loyal Sherpas..... we are getting used to this ! We then took a 15 min hike to the Museum and got another view of the high peaks of Everest, Lhotse and the Closer Ama Dablam. The Museum contained lots of info on the Himalayas, history, how they were formed, flora and fauna and information on the Nepalese people and their customs.

We then returned to Namche for breakfast and couple of hours around the Market...Interesting, especially the Meat Shop. Dry, warm and old...we won't be eating any cutlets here.

After a spot of Lunch both Teams co-located and left Namche to trek to Khumjung, promised a motorway-like path sweeping gracefully around the clearly visible high feature. We were however treated instead to a much more direct route upwards accompanied by the mist, fog, clag and lowlying cloud cover which had descended on us. Reminiscent of Dartmoor, today's trek almost continued the Bootneck tradition of Loads Of Smoke, Straight Up The Middle. This all created an eerie atmosphere which went some way to compensating for the lack of stunning views to which we had grown accustomed. In keeping with ML lore that 'two is one, one is none', the eeriness only grew eerier when Cpl Vandenberg's Evil Twin/Longlost Father passed by on the hill, only to be accosted for the obligatory phot for the PTI Staff Room. At this point we were met by an American Guide and his Client who were acclimatising before attempting Ama Dablam and then heading off to ascend Kala Patthar and Lhotse. (They like to go big). The American struck up a conversation with Swifty and it soon transpired they had they both mixed in the same climbing circle of friends. Before Swiftos had the chance to get into full dit spin, Paul reminded him the American was only up here for a few weeks, not grow old up here. Swifty took it well and continued his tales of woe. (Paul Weir, Rob McIntyre and Nige Lithgow detached themselves to recce the Cairn to see what state it was in and what tools they would require to fix the Plaques). After this climb, those who had been bold and started cold overtook those ditching their warmers kit and continued on what became a much gentler trek towards another beautiful settlement. Sheltered by hills on either side, Khumjung is quiet yet friendly, and hosts a school and football pitch founded by Hillary himself.

Settled into our new accommodation and warmed by a glass of tea and a fine selection of cheese biscuits, we were lucky enough to be invited to the Khumjung monastery. Over 500 years old, and host to handwritten scrolls of Buddhist holy books, the monastery was quite beautiful and the team were suitably humbled by the dedication to the locals' maintenance of their cultural heritage. In other news, we were treated to a rare glimpse at the other historical artifact to which Khumjung monastery plays host: A Pukka Gen Skull Of The Yeti. The team reserved judgment, and intensive flash photography of the glass case remains inconclusive. Watch this space!

Paul and Nige left early to fix the Plaques to the Cairn the team followed behind for the Memorial Service. We followed Rob and Tenzing up the narrow winding track arriving 20 minutes later. Nige gave the History of the Cairn which was built by Mne Danny Claricoates MC last year on KC09. Danny and Nige had lost two good friends on a Patrol on Herrick 9, Mne Neil Dunstan and Mne Robert McKibben. Danny then dedicated the Cairn to all Royal Marines who have lost their lives and wrote a very touching message on the back of the Plaque In Memory of Neil and Robert. W01 (RSM) Kev Green gave a short address to the Team and then read the Act of Rememberance. This was followed by 2 minutes silence and then lads were left to pay their own respects before a photo opportunity time. Out came the KC10 and The Baton Flags along with The Baton itself.

Here follows the verse of the Poem read out by Kev, written by Laurence Binyon.

They Shall Not Grow Old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

A very sombre end to a great day.