The road to Bhutan is paved with good intentions

DANANG, VIETNAM – When Melanie and I registered last year for a weeklong tour of Bhutan, we promised ourselves we would get into better shape for the expected miles of hiking and the thinner air of the high-altitude environment.

Our starting point (Thimpu) is about a mile and a half above sea level, and the Tiger’s Nest Monastery in the photo above is located at about 10,000 feet.

The tour was described as moderately physical, so we figured we could manage whatever comes up along the way. But it would be nice if we could manage it without having to struggle.

We’re already in pretty good shape

We already walk a lot, but we intended to start taking longer walks (farther than just to the market or out to a local restaurant). And we vowed to run up and down our five-story apartment stairs whenever we took a break from sitting at our computers.

Our main form of exercise, other than walking, is going swimming a few times each week at our local sports center. Our plan was to go to the pool at least four mornings a week, maybe even five.

So here we are, just about a month away from our big trip and it’s all suddenly getting very real. We’re both pretty healthy, but our intentions of improving our strength and stamina haven’t exactly panned out.

How’s that plan working for ya’?

The long walks have not happened. Since registering for the trip last Fall, we could probably count on our two hands the number of longer walks we’ve taken. We might need to add in a toe or two, but the count certainly wouldn’t require a whole foot’s worth.

As for running up and down our five flights of stairs… we’ve done it several times (walking, not running), but certainly not on a regular basis. I still sometimes get a little winded just walking up to our third-floor apartment, especially if we’re carrying a load of fruit and vegetables from a trip to the wet market or when we’re returning from a session at the pool.

Speaking of the pool, we do swim fairly often. But on average it’s been more like two or three times a week, rarely four times, and never five. There are just too many reasons not to go on any given morning…

We can always find an excuse to stay home

• • It’s the weekend, so there will be too many kids taking lessons.
  • We’re out of fruit so we have to go shopping at the market first thing; maybe we’ll swim when we get back (we never do).
  • I was awake for a while in the middle of the night so I’m just too tired this morning.

Or our latest excuse… It’s raining.

That’s what tripped us up one day last week. The sky was already looking a little ominous when we set out for the pool. It had rained at least once overnight, and there was another heavy downpour not long after we woke up.

We were pretty sure it might rain again, and maybe soon. But I figured we could make it to the pool before the next shower began. And, I reasoned, if we’re in the pool when it starts to rain, so what? We’ll already be wet.

Our intentions were good

So we set out on our trek with the best of intentions.

It’s only a few blocks from our apartment to the sports center, though lately the route often involves a detour or two. The city has been tearing up streets all over our neighborhood for the last few months as they install new water and sewer lines. We never know where our way will be blocked by heavy equipment, or a new trench cutting across our normal path.

That morning was no exception. One of our usual streets was completely impassable. A new trench, six feet deep, sliced along what had been a sidewalk, while the center of the street was piled high with the soil they removed from the cut. After a quick detour through the alley that runs parallel to the wounded street, we turned the corner toward the pool.

We were almost there

We were almost to our destination, could see the sports center across the soccer field through the fence on our right, when the skies opened up and the rain began to fall.

There were no light sprinkles, no gentle ramping up to showers. Nope. It was torrential from the first drop.

Luckily, we were right next to one of our favorite breakfast hangouts. We quickly ducked inside before we could get soaked.

This breakfast spot has all outdoor seating, and fortunately almost all of it is covered. We managed to find a table that was mostly immune from the downpour outside, with only an occasional splatter from the drops that found their way around the awning overhead.

So, instead of a morning swim it was on to Plan B: We ate a leisurely breakfast under cover as we watched and listened to the rain falling all around us.

Our intentions were good, but… we’ll get back on that road another day.