The great wall kicks our a...es

So we don't have much time in Beijing so we want to get in all that we can. So we joined up for a 10K hike along the great wall. It is suppose to be for reasonably fit people and is strenuous. Ann and I aren't the most fit but we make it up in determination. So at 7am we have our good hikers on and are ready to go. We get on the bus and there isn't anyone over 25. Well there are maybe 5 of us out of 40 who are over 30ish. Oh well we won't die right?

It is a scenic 2 hour drive to the wall. We are hiking on a part of the wall that has been restored and part that is unrestored. There are suppose to be no other people on this part and especially post card sellers.

So we arrive it is amazing here. So lush and green with steep mountains all around. The wall was built in sections depending on who the emporer was at the time. The wall is so large that if you stretched it out it would go around the world. Pretty amazing.

So we start trekking. Up and Up and Up. It is hot and this is going to be another adventure.

We are hiking 8 towers. Our leader says that the first five are the hardest and then we go downhill. And going slow is ok. No problem...

So after we hit tower 3 I am ready to have a heart attack. I never knew my heart could pound so hard. The young bucks are 2 towers ahead of us. At least we aren't in last place. All it is now is mind over matter. Keep moving even if it is slow and easy. At tower 5 we celebrate all down hill now. And we are almost out of water. Whish there was at least one seller here. The guide did tell us that the downhill part was kinda rough and maybe even a little dangerous. Well he didn't lie. It was crumbling wall and very slippery. Alomost took as long to do the last 2 towers as did going up to the first 5. Rubber legs do not describe how my legs felt. A nice guy from Amsterdam shared some of his water with us. And finally we made it to the bottom. Well we did it. Walked 10k on the Great Wall and not the east peasy touristy part. We stopped for lunch and drank another litre of water each. Then the 2 hour bus ride home was quite except for the soft snores of everyone sleeping.

Pretty sure I earned my beer with supper tonight.