The Great Wall

"Location Scouting" is the term I will use for our little hike today. Steve and Sean were my leaders on this death march. We went to section that is not very touristy or "improved" like the regular areas. So we get out at this recently upgraded village. Nice buildings and a decent road. We pay our 25 RMB or about $4.50 and off we go. Now I'm not in the best shape I could be. Granted I do work out a bit and have OK cardio. Yeah, well I thought so. We head up a trail followed by a little dog that seemed to like us. It's a steep scramble but once I catch my breath, we are rewarded with this view.

It's a pretty rocky trail along the top of a ridge, it eventually leads to the top of the wall. We are on and off, up and down the wall several times for the next hour and a half. We eventually hit a more regular and less overgrown area of the wall. The dog keeps coming back to check on my as I'm trailing Steve and Sean most of the time.








We run in to only other people that we see that day, other then a couple of people who are doing a little repair on a section. Well and Laura are from England and taking some time before they start there full time careers as Lawyers back in England. They were actually feeling lost and where happy to see 2 asian guys and very excited when I stubbled along and said "how's it going?" in english. Seems they followed the path through the village and where able to shave 1.5 hours of the difficult part of the hike.

So the five of us kept going on the top of the wall until we hit the military section that is off limits.



Down through the valley, up and down over the hills and far away. We weaved in and out of some cultivated land. As we started back up my legs start cramping up like you wouldn't believe and not much option other than to limp through it. Here is a little shot of hut that was on the way down.













It seems to just go on and on. Can't believe the history that I was walking over. The number of people and years to build it, let alone the armies that sat on it watching and waiting or had to cross it.








We did eventually get close to one of the more tourist oriented areas where Steve's drive was waiting for us. Then off to a truckstop for some home cooking. I past on eating the intestine. The rest of it was good though.