sooo.... I made the trek!

After a day of rest from being ill in Cusco I was able to join the group just before setting off on the Inca Trail (i will wish I never joined them)

I left on Tuesday morning from Cusco at 5am with the treks 2nd Guide Ober and the chief Chef (amen to that cook), and arrived at 7am in the Hostel where everyone had spent the night after their Sacred Valley day and was met by some surprised faces! yes I made it ;)

We got going at 7.30am (sooo early when you´ve been up since 4.30am) The beginning of the trek was a 45 minute drive into the Moutains where we would begin our long 4 day trek (3 nights camping). I decided to take my Nikon on the hike with me, ow my that thing starts to feel heavy after a while ;)

The first day of the trek is a tester day, we had flats, climbs and different tempratures to get used to. This day I found so hard because of the sickness from the weekend. by the end of the first day I was exhausted and was the last to arrive at the camp with the help of Sarah and Percy (our Guide). we had a really nice afternoon to relax, recover and eat. When the sun set, the cold set in and we all wrapped up and laid on the grass to look up at the milky way and shooting stars. we thought it was 11pm and was ready for bed, however it was actuall around 8pm and we couldnt care, we was shattered so went to bed.

Day 2 of the trek was the toughest thing i have ever had to do. This day is the highest climb at 4,200 meters to Dead Woman´s Pass. we awoke early (earlier every morning :( 6am ish this morning) and we set off and from the word go we walked UP, there was barely a flat for the whole day. The group slplit into two groups, the fast passed 'we can do it' group and the 'feck this is hard, give me a donkey' group.... guess which group i was in? need a clue? guessed you had´nt. There was approximately 6 of us who took a slower pase up the mountain and reached Dead Woman´s Pass after much swearing, pucking (not me this time yay) and constant moaning (that was me). BUT guess what, I made it, i got to the top with a last minute rendition of 'Lollypop' being sang by the 'we can do it´s' led by Rebecca. After reaching the top the last small group of girls reached us and we set off down the otherside (no UPS this side) we all made our way down with jelly legs. That nights camping was rough, but the food was fab... I have never enjoyed soup so much before! i eat seconds and thirds along with Rebecca, Anthony and Brian (we always sat at the end of the table handing out the food, because when the plates came back down, we took what the others didnt want). This evening, i learnt 'Spoons' a funny quick paced card game.

Day 3 was the best day, we was up at 5am ish, but it was the easiest day, as my body knew the hardest was out of the way. We walked through the most beautiful of the route. There was so much green everywhere and we looked liked some of the time was was walking through rainforest. Dont get me wrong, there was some UPs!! ;) but i had finally got my strength and was trekking with the front of the group. At one point I was even leading!! whoop whoop! Í took many of my pictures on this day and got to look out across the mountains and enjoy the view. It was our longest day, so we got to have lunch on route out in the open with the sun beaming down. We was so lucky as it hadnt rained at all on our trek. We reached base camp around 3pm and was around the first to arrive. We finally got the have a shower (only 5 minutes mind) and we drank beer till after sun set.

Day 4!!! 3.30am start (i wish, Becky woke me and the neighbours at 3am) we was up early so that we could que at the entrance which opened at 5am for the last day of the trek to the Sun gate, where you first see Machu Picchu..... we was first YAY!!! followed by a couple of groups close behind. by this day, becky had twisted her knee and i had a bruised ankle... after a very strong dose of pain killers we was able to ignore the pain to pretty much sprint to the Sun Gate. I remember one part the most.... the stairs we had to climb to get over that last ridge, where us guys clambered up with hands and feet heads down and concerntrating on making the right move. The sprint was amazing though! that frist glimpse of Machu Picchu makes your heart race, when you look over all that work you have done for 4 days. My one word of advise to any travels, is don´t take more than one picture...just sit and look and take it in, as that lense will build a barrier.

Machu Picchu is wonderful. As you look our across the maoutains on your way down you can see all the changes that have happened over the years. Percy (guide) had really built this image in your mind as to what the land would look like with people living their daily lives. Rebecca and I took it slowly down with Ober and watched the sun rising above, the mist lifting and had time to in take everything. We arrived at Macchu Picchu around 7am and joined the group with Percy leading the way - teaching us the Inca way.

I have not gone into fine detail, as this trip is something which you need to experience to understand, and enjoy. I had highs and lows, but in the end i am thankful i did it and can tell my stories during my life time. This place is a wonder of the world and should be conserved. It is a shame so many people everyday visit via train/bus, beacuse it is damaging the land. Make your trip soon by foot before the Inca ruins dissapeare.