I went with a group of around 55 people and we were all raising money for a cancer charity, by trekking the Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu. I got home late on Sunday (my birthday).
I can report back that I got to Macchu Picchu safe and well - although it was very hard work at times. The views on the trek were absolutely fantastic, and the group spirit kept us all going - especially when some people were finding it tough for one reason or another. We had very early starts at am - followed by very long days trekking.
Everyone had their own personal reason for doing the trip and in raising the money for the charity - and as I am sure you can imagine, it was very emotional at times especially once we eventually arrived at Macchu Picchu which is just amazing.
The peruvians are fantastic people - and the porters and guides we had with us on the trip were absolutely brilliant. They brought us tea or hot chocolate to our tents at to wake us up, and provided fantastic 3 course lunches and dinners while we are in the middle of mountains!!! It was unbelievable. The porters have fantasic stamina as they carry all this stuff on the trek on their backs - including the calor gas tanks for the cooking along with all our camping gear, food, portaloos etc etc. They run a lot of the trek with the huge packs on their backs to get to camp and set it all up for us. They still manage to smile and say Hola as they go past us, even though the sweat was pouring off them (it was over 85 degrees on the trip!)
We were told that being a porter is a good job as they get paid around 12 dollars a day! Some of the porters have to walk for 2 days from their villages to get to their starting point for the trek - they obviously then have to walk for 2 days to get home once they are finished. The youngest porter on our trip was 15 years old. They dont even wear walking boots - but sandals or plimsolls. I know people on the trip were saying that they are used to it, but it made me feel very humble at times.
Thanks to Corrie for the Paddington Bear which she gave me the day before I went away. He has also seeen some sights on the way :shock: and has a few badges from Peru on his hat now
So far, the group I trekked with has raised over £180,000 for the charity and we still have some money to pay in!!! I would like to say once again, a huge huge thanks to those of you who sponsored me - and a huge thanks to Bassman - for putting up with all the stresses and worries I had before I went away xxx
:lol:
) but it's my 5th in a row and have done it since my Dad was first diagnosed.