We are often tired and imbalanced not because we are doing too much, but because we are doing too little of what is most real and meaningful
M. Williamson
Day 4
I woke to the buzzing of mosquitos I hadn’t been bitten yet….I had purchased an anti-bug wristband to fend them off on a tip-off from a friend back home and was one of the only ones, a few from the group had developed fevers and swelling from bites the day before and of course the nasty incident of a cockroach and someone’s nose I promised I wouldn’t get personal with this writing palava. But definitely worthy of mention…sorry Charlie!?
I didn’t wash today using face wipes to make me look half normal using bottled water to brush teeth, caffeine tablet, nuts, seeds, protein bar, hydration tablet.
I wasn’t in the best form today on waking just wanted to kinda wander alone, the mood within the group was jovial and everyone was assuming their positions, the counter aka Will who made sure everyone was present and correct, the timekeeper aka Sarah who sorted timings for leaving each lodge/hostel every morning, you’d probably wonder were our English guide was….well she was there just maybe not in the commanding way you’d expect.
At Breakfast, we were briefed as to what was ahead by Hastings a shorter day on paper it turned out to be anything but!
This part of the wall included a very commercial look to it with a fantastic new visitor centre and very western looking feel to it with my first sight of proper Great Wall of China merchandise, up until now we were taken off the beaten track which I liked, the rural landscape of China’s provinces had been really stunning but today was showing me how popular the Great Wall was. The sheer numbers on it meant for slower trekking and big splits in our group.
It started as we were told with “The 2000 vertical steps to Heaven” amazingly named before we’d reach the Wall it was bitter cold and a meltdown was had by one girl in our group before we’d finished our morning ritual of stretching. I had no time for it rolled my eyes and with a deep breath I wanted to keep moving I would refrain from adding my tuppence worth, her mood was affecting others.
I pushed on with a group of 5 the same 5 as other days we’d bonded really well amazing what you talk about nothing is off limits there was me, Charlie (16), Daryl (Wales) Cadi (Wales) Lindz (Blackburn) and Sarah (Milton Keynes) I loved her ballsey attitude, she embraced everything that was China. The views today again were spectacular in the 26 degrees midday heat.
The spilt happened in our group when we got caught in between a group of what seemed a thousand kids from a school in a deep coloured purple type tracksuit uniform it was unusual. The noticeable noise from them was deafening in between this noise was just a casual couple getting married random stuff, of course, had to get a wee photobomb and be the annoying tourist, the bride was stunning in white.
The pace at the front was casual I saw it that way I stopped got some snaps as did everyone but others were in la la land struggling after the long day yesterday. We had made it to the final regrouping less than 5mins to the bottom were I had spotted an actual coffee shop it had been Friday since my last cup it was now Thursday cold turkey our group broke into two I went for coffee and sat in the sun, processing my thoughts, taking everything in, people watching it was an amazing place for this, with the most organic energy like a pureness/quietness. My first bought gifts from the branded “Great Wall Shop” were in hand I do hope my nephews enjoyed the cuddly toys I purchased and those all-important travelled china mugs. The others went for a beer with no sign of the other 9 who were still on the wall. I was enjoying being still and present, contemplating what this trip meant to me after 4 days trekking and those nearest and dearest, their messages of support and just simple thoughts of unity.
An hour and a half later the rest had appeared with stories of getting lost, a few losing their shit and a strop from a girl who said she hated the wall with a few expletives’s so got herself a cable car at the top and a taxi to Beijing City Centre were she booked herself into a 5star hotel for the night and said she’d had enough. I had to have a giggle to myself since I was feeling very relaxed and chilled with coffee number 2 in hand….I’m so sorry if I wasn’t being very compassionate to others but you just couldn’t write this stuff!?
The remaining few had consequently fallen out with the English leader who’d got herself on the wrong radio channel and couldn’t contact anyone including Hastings our Chinese guide! What a piss up….what drama!
As relaxed as I was it had been a long day, I could smell myself, the heat had been sapping and my feet weren’t in great shape I was hoping for a shower, I embraced one in a dungeon type place with rooms charged by the hour!? Dodgy….We got to our lodge after an hour bus journey to a cold very dark place with a wacky restaurant that looked like a garden centre, hygiene was shocking I was wary of it all, it was by far the dodgiest place Id encountered for food, eating little, drinking a few beers and going to bed hungry and cold. I didn’t know how to feel.
Sleep was so minimal and I awoke with a bite to the side of my face today was gonna be tiring.
Catch you soon. G