From Juyongguan north-west of Beijing to Simatai, north-east.

We all completed it! Still got all 10 toes (thanks Julia!). Six days walking on The Great Wall of China. September 23 to 29, 2007.We did sleep but not on the wall! For team photo & names, please see below...

Sore quad's and calf muscles after Days 1 & 2 !

Days 4, 5 & 6 we saw ancient relics of the wall, original, unrestored - simply stunning - and without the crowds (or pollution!). At Gubeikou, Jinshanling & Simatai. Well worth travelling a little further from Beijing to get to these older, less touristy parts.

Felt a million dollars by Day 6 ! Well, you would after 85,896  (big) steps! (Thanks Chief Statistician Clare!).

If you want to find out more about how the trek went & see photo's, please go to 'Video, Audio Clips & Photo's'. Also Post-trek Radio Interview, in 'Media Bits'n'Pieces'.

TEAM PHOTO & THE GROUP

Taken around 8 am on Day 5. Before heading off towards Jinshanling.

Penny, Kate, Emma, Mark, John, Jan, Larry, Nait, Benita, Jack (Back Row)

Michelle, Amber (sort-of Middle Row, Far Left)

Larissa, Lynn, Lou, Olwen, Clare, Natalie, Mel, Debbie, Cathy, 'John Wayne' (Front Row)

For more...read below...

Thanks guys! I had a blast walking (some of) The Great Wall of China with you! Everyone's asking me about you...so here goes!

- My 2 Favourite Smilers, Lynn, & Natalie mother of 3 young 'uns, both so warm & friendly, even at 7 am - just wanna hug you;

- The lovely Penny who got stuck in a lift for an hour or so - no one could hear her calls for help (...from the foot massage centre!);

- 'The Twins' Kate & Emma, funny & smart, delightful company - don't ever change!

- Clare The Statistician (not a nerd - looks more like Catherine Zeta Jones!) - wore a pedometer each day to measure the total number of steps taken (85,896 remember?!).

- Clare's hubby Jan assisted in the step-count task - see him get 'attacked' at Gubeikou getting off the bus! Audio Clip Number 3.

- 'Sir Larry' - appointed leader at the front end of the bus - super-smart...knew precisely when to eat bananas, snacks, put on sunscreen for maximum effect;

- SuperMen 2 - usually the first to get to destinations - guys did you actually see any of the sights/sites?! 'The Joker' Mark (teased me NON-stop but I dished back!) & Fitness Trainer Nait who picked up 'interesting' Mandarin from our bus driver..even practised 'it' on 'SuperModels' on photo-shoot!

- Benita you are the most charming & feminine lawyer I've ever met!

- Onto another lawyer John & his lovely, lovely wife Cathy The Milliner - thank you both for your interest as to how I'm going to proceed after this trip! You've given me much food-for-thought!

- Continuing on the classy lady theme, Brits Olwen & Mel, love ya's! Olwen please organise the next trek (but non-fundraising!), 2009 was it? Mel, yes, you can 'shout' me when I'm in Sydney! And Debs, I enjoyed sitting next to you for the acrobatics - hope my kids weren't too disruptive?!

- Speaking of disruptive, goodness, I've not mentioned Amber yet! Non-stop laughter, jokes & pure madness! I will never ever forget your unique bowling method?!* And poor young Larissa, how did you ever manage to twin share with her - I hope you've recovered your sanity!

So there we go! I sincerely hope to share some Yanjing beer with you soon. Please come to Hong Kong (Amber & Nait, you'll need to give me plenty of advance notice so I can get my head around 'entertaining' you!)

Love Lou, The Great Wall Geek  x x

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