hi,

First this: check out if flying is not a problem, some friends told me 10 days ago that they had some problems of leaving kathmandu, even on plain! At that time there was no bustrafic. Yesterday a nepalese friend wrote me that there was again bustraffic in the east, but that they had banda's (strikes) for sometimes 10 upto 20 days!.
Always ask if there is a banda, and dont drive when there is one. Unless your driving in a military escort,(and even then). The situation is serious..people get killed everyday, and the maoist dont care if your a tourist. Being an american is not a good thing in nepal..
Petrol: take your precautions, petrol can be not available or very expensive (get in line).3 weeks ago their were riots in the streets of kathmandu because of this problem..


The best and safest route to Kathmandu is from Sonauli to Butwal, Pokhara and then direction Kathmandu valley.Dont take the road over Hetauda, unless you wanna meet mauro's friends :-)
Roadconditions can be good to very bad depending of landslides (this period can be dangerous)take some food with you and enough water, you can get stuck for more then 24 hours...
In Butwal there is some basic accomodation for sleeping.The town is not interesting.On the way to pokhara, a little bit of the road lies Lumbini, birthplace of the buddha, somebody told me there are some sleepingplaces to and probably a better option.
But you can make sonauli-pokhara in one day...
Pokhara is a nice place, check out Vienna Lake lodge, the best place to stay. a little bit out of the crowded erea, but with a very nice vieuw over the pewa lake. The old Blues bar is a place where bikers meet..

good luck
greetz
niels