The day started at 06:00 and at a frantic pace.  I am a great worrier and I was concerned that I had packed my equipment in such a way that I would be over the 20Kg weight limit that Aeroflot impose.  After my brief flap calm was restored and I et about showering and seeing to my sunburnt face again.

At 06:30 I made sure that Ron was awake (as he requested!) by bashing on his door until he answered.  Shortly after it was breakfast time.  We met up with the Brazilian climbers who had made their summit bid two days ago.  It took them 16 hours on summit day but most of them made it.  Breakfast was spent reliving our summit bids, all the while worrying other climbers sat at their breakfast tables who were yet to go on Mount Elbrus!

By 07:30 we found ourselves on our bus bound for Mineralnye Vody and our flights back home.  Again, the journey was rather eventful as we narrowly missed wild animals and other traffic in a minibus that could only be described as decrepit.

Eventually after several nerve wracking police checks we arrived at Mineralnye Vody Airport.  The following hour was an utterly confusing and bewildering experience.  We went in several queues for our check in, weight checks for luggage, security and boarding in sweltering heat to board our flight.  Why such a rigmarole to board a plane?

Having got on the plane we enjoyed a safe flight to Moscow where the fun really began.  After being sent to the wrong place to collect our luggage we spent an hour in the incredible heat outside terminal one waiting for the bus to terminal two.  With the arrival of the bus the usual Russian ‘free for all’ ensued.  Ron and I made sure we got our bags onto the bus storage compartment and boarded.  Some American tourists complained that they had been the first in the queue and didn’t deserve to be left for the next bus.  The driver’s response said it all “welcome to Russia”!

Following our arrival at terminal two Ron and I collected our luggage and headed for the departures lounge.  We said goodbye to Paolo and Helena, two Brazilian climbers we had become friendly with, and tried to enjoy our last few moments in Russia.

Incredibly Ron and I got so engrossed in our conversation that I ended up having to sprint to the check in desk so as not to miss my flight!  Having cleared security I was all set to return to the UK.  Ron and I said Auwedersein and went our separate ways.  Both Ron and Ryan have become very good friends to me this week and I know we will climb together again in the future.

On board the flight back to London thoughts of the amazing week started to flood back to me.  I also had the sunburn to prove I had reached the summit!

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