Friday morning - Tower 11 Conquered!

We are sat on the coach, tired, showered and triumphant! We started in the
dark and the rain, each of us lost in our own private pool of torchlight
illuminating just enough to make out the next step. We moved as a group up
the hill to Tower 3 and then we were on our own for the push up to Tower 7.

The world contracted to one step at a time one breath out, next step,
breathe in, next step, breath out, don't look up, one more step. Slowly
the dawning light fought through the murk, one by one the towers fell.
Four, sip of water, getting into a rhythm now, Ann's ipod music seeping out
from her headphones. Five, slippery here, holding hands zig zaging across
the steps, Ann doing 10 seconds of the arm movements of the Macarana. Six,
we are going to make it no matter what now, we can hear the guys at the
front chanting out "Tower 7, not far now". The final push, head down,
sweat and rain dripping from the brow of my hat, glasses steaming up, but
in front the chanting is getting louder as the team cheer everyone in to
the tower.

"Go Ann, go Andrew. Go Ann, come on Andrew", and with a final gasp up the
ladder we are in the Tower. We hug and take another sip of water, then we
join in cheering on the remainder of the team. We all make it to the
Tower! Whilst we are inside, the sun has risen, and the rain has stopped,
so when we come out to go on the top for team photo's it is bright light,
with the tops of surrounding mountains emerging out of the misty clouds
like whales breaching the ocean surface for air.

The time out for photo's has given us all a second wind, and the majority
press on to Tower 11. The intervals are shorter now and the gradient not
quite so steep, but the steps are still slippery and the ramps long and
dangerous. But nothing is going to stop us now, we are so close and we
will make it. Tower 8, small ramp, set of steps. Tower 9 and we can see
the end. Tower 10 and we are on the home straight. Tower 11. WE DID IT!

We take a moment to savour the experience. We are on the tallest part of
the Wall, looking back over the way we traversed up. The Sun burns off the
mist enough that we can see back to the guys on Tower 7. What a feeling.
More photo's, more hugs, then it's time for the descent, which (if
anything) is harder than coming up. Ann and I are holding hands and
helping each other across the bad bits. Steadily we make it back to Tower
7, pick up our back packs and carry on the downward slog.

Somehow it seems shorter in the daylight, before we know it we are back at
the start point and time for more group photo's, then it's onto the path
for the final walk to the end. Just before we finish the Classic Tours
team shepard us into lines of 5 with linked arms and we walk across the
bridge to the hotel, chanting "Kevin's, Kevin's Trekkers". To the sounds
of exploding firecrackers and with champange being sprayed over us, we
cross the finish line. Five days of sweat, blisters, tears and aches, but
we have completed our Trek China.

Thanks to everyone who sponsored us and everyone who has followed us on the
blogs, maps and the pictures on Flicker. The support has been amazing and
has kept us going when times have got tough.

More later.

Ann, Andrew & Simon