End of Trek - Wednesday

Wow! We have done it! 7 hours out in the sun, up hill, down dale, well up
mountain and down valley, and we have cracked it. Great sense of
accomplishment amongst all the trekkers, well earned and hard won.

The start of the day was surreal, but really brought home how far we are
away from home. For this part of the walk we encountered "wall catchers"
who are locals who carry your rucksack along the wall for 100 (RMB) or
about 7 (GBP) which for today was about £1 an hour. We later found out
this is about the same the local farmers make in a day which partially
explains why this morning we were mobbed by a swirling mass of shouting
Chinese men and women all tugging at our arms and pleading to carry our
rucksacks. They were so desperate that even the trekkers who didn't elect
to use them, ended up with a companion who walked along side them for the
whole 7 hours, in the hope that they would get some money at the end.

The people who walked with us were lovely and very helpful. Many a
strapping lad was spotted holding hands with a tiny Chinese lady, old
enough to be their Mum, helping them up a tricky bit of the Wall.

We have walked up and over the Wall today and alongside the base of it as
well as scrambling down and up the valley. Mainly the wall was unrestored,
with the path at times being very narrow with steep drops either side. We
could see our route for the day sprawling out in front, like a lazy dragon
hugging the top of the mountain ridge, so the day was a series of short
climbs to the next tower, a slight drop and then back up again.

We ended just as the Wall reverted to a reconstructed state, that's where
we are back tomorrow. Keep the blogs coming and please post against the
next one we put up, which will be a request for the England/Russia match.

Andrew, Ann & Simon