Thursday 30thSeptember - Machu Picchu - At last!

Up at 4am. Very little sleep because it was freezing. Woke up to a covering of frost everywhere including tent. Said goodbye to our porters, cooks and horsemen and set off for what seemed like a leasurely 3.5 hr trek (after the last two days) down to Yanahuara where we were re-united with Charlotte who had fully recovered and made our way to Ollantayambo train station and a luxury train ride to Aguas Calientes and the last leg to Machu Picchu - Yet another boiling hot morning!

Machu Picchu - at last - what an amazing sight and what an incredable journey.

I can honestly say that this has been the most gruelling and amazing experience imaginable and following the dramas of past few days we had to leave the Machu Picchu site quicker and earlier than planned as a thunder storm broke overhead!

Would I do it again? - No!! (Well possibly - if I was 30 years younger)

Am I glad that I did it? Yes - I wouldn't have missed it for the world !!!

The whole journey from the day I made the decision to take up the challenge until the Trek itself has been amazing with the support, sponsorship and good wishes I have received from everyone and meeting my inspiring fellow trekkers. I have raised with your generosity £4,025 and collectively our party had raised a total of £186,000 for our various charities as of last week.

And Machu Picchu? - All I can say is Wow!!!!

Wednesday 29th September - Hiking up Hatun Paso Mountain

Up at 4.30am for a 7 am start to learn that Charlotte one of our leaders was suffering quite severely from altitude sickness and was to be taken back down to a lower altitude to recover. It was to be a long day as we still had 2 hrs to make up from previous day's events plus today's Trek. Another very tough trek and soon found myself struggling as before. Concern soon arose because of storm clouds gathering at the pass and a few of us agreed to ride horses to speed up progress. It seemed like a good idea but was very scary and my mule had a mind of his own and I got separated from other riders when we stopped to put on warmer clothes to deal with dropping temperature, so I rejoined walkers. Two of our party then collapsed within 10 minutes of each other from exhaustion, and whilst doctors were tending to them it started to hail and get very cold. Because of casualties the group was split into two with faster walkers going on ahead and slower walkers (which incuded me) remaining to follow on with casualties who now needed the horses as heavy cloud descended over us creating a very serious situation. We made our way forward slowly and eventually made it through the pass at 4,600 meters (15,180 ft) where the porters were waiting with hot coca tea which they had made at base camp and run up the mountain with - unbelievable !! We could hardly see each other for a while and then the mist magically cleared revealing a beautiful lake in the valley below. By the time we reached camp we had been trekking for 9.5 hrs (excluding lunch and other stops) we were exhausted and frozen as we went to bed on the coldest night yet.

Tuesday 28th September - Day 2 cont'd Lares Trail & an encounter with celebs!

Finally we begin our Trek proper and everyone is raring to go, when we encounter party of celebs trekking same route as us today. Another scorching hot morning climbing to 4,200 meters (13,860 ft) and after only 15 minutes I started to struggle. It was so hard to breath with all the exertion, but I wasn't the only one and everyone was encouraging and supporting each other as we slogged on stopping regularly to catch our breath and muster the energy to move forward. This was so much harder than I could possibly have imagined! The descent after lunch was easier on the breathing front but quite challenging underfoot. Arrived at camp at 3,900 meters (12,870 ft) after trekking for 6.5 hrs (excluding lunch & breaks).

Tuesday 28th September - Day 2 of Trek & A Hairy Bus Ride!

Up at 2 am - awoken by cooks with Coca tea and popcorn - amazing room service! It had rained during the night and a number of people woke up foating in water (I fortunately was not one of them)3 am start as the road that was closed yesterday was only open through the night and we had to get through the pass before it closed again at 7.30 am. This was the scariest drive on an unlit uneven rocky muddy road that was extremely narrow in places - not to mention the hairpin bends! We had to get off the bus a number of times to enable the bus driver to drive safely over the rocks in the road. I have never been so scared or pleased to see daylight!

Monday September 27th - Day 1 of Trek

Breakfast at 8 am and feeling acclimatised after a good night's sleep. At morning briefing advised that day's plans had changed. Because of road closure we couldn't reach beginning of Trek. Another red hot day. Drove to Moray to see ancient greenhouse circles, then on to unplanned camp site in Sacred Valley at Calco and a 3 hr Trek locally. Very basic facilities! but good food provided by camp cooks. Nice and warm in sleeping bag but didn't sleep too well!

Sunday 26th September - Acclimatisation Day

After an 11 hr flight to Sao Paulo and 4 hr flight to Lima we were up at 2 am (Trek ready) to fly 1 hr to Cusco. 44 of us in party including two leaders, 2 doctors and Skyline rep. We started our 3 hr acclimatisation trek at 3,400 meters (11,200 ft) in red hot sunshine and it wasn't long before I started to feel the effects of the altitude with nausea and a pounding headache! Alpacca on the menu for lunch. During lunch we were all invited to share our stories and motivation for making this trip - very humbling and extremely moving. I only just made it back, the walk wasn't difficult but I struggled because I felt so ill!

Sponsorship Target Reached & More - Thankyou....

Thank you so much to everyone who has sponsored me. I set a target of £3,000 and am delighted to tell you that the figure stands at £3,635 today. What a great feeling to be setting off having acheived my goal - All I have to do now is earn it !!

Thankyou for your support and all of your 'Good Luck' wishes.

Week 17 - Final Walk in Training Programme around Wakefield

5 Hrs with Frances and Bear around Newmillerdam Country Park, Notton and Royston. A 5 Hr uninterrupted gossip with my daughter, a perfect end to my training programme - I need to be fit enough to walk at a good pace and still carry on a conversation - I think we well and truly proved that I passed that test!

A week off now, conserving my energy for the Trek!

Week 16 - Great Whernside, Yorkshire Dales

My second walk with the Ramblers. 6 Hrs and 12 miles - 9 of us (including leaders Paul & Linda) set off from the picturesque village of Kettlewell for a brilliant yet challenging walk up and over Great Whernside which, at 2,310 ft sits between Wharfedale and Nidderdale. We began with a tough steep climb and then much of the walk was across exposed, sometimes very squishy moorland. A much softer terrain than I have done before and very hard going in places. I tried out my trekking poles for the first time and they definitely helped once I got the hang of them! Fantastic scenery!!

Week 15 - Leeds City Centre to Otley via Meanwood Valley Trail

7 Hrs and not sure how many miles - 16ish! with James & Hannah. The Meanwood Valley Trail is a footpath which runs from Woodhouse Moor near the University of Leeds, along Woodhouse Ridge through Headingley, Meanwood and Adel where it meets the Leeds Country Way linking to the Dales Way. Again the Red Kites that are usually out were shy and we didn't managed to see even one! We finished at Otley Chevin Forest which featured several interesting wood carvings (one shown on the left), enjoyed the magnificent views over the Wharfe Valley and wearily walked down into the town where we had a well earned refreshment stop in a nearby pub before catching the bus back to Leeds!

Week 15 - Harewood Estate Circular Walk, Leeds

7 miles - 3.1/2 hrs and a lovely sunny day for this very pleasant walk with Irene (somewhere under that hat!) pictured with Harewood House just visible in the background. Unfortunately the main attraction of the walk, the Red Kites were very shy and didn't put in an appearance for us. The Harewood Arms Hotel however was perfectly placed for a light lunch at the halfway point.

Week 14 - To The Woods in South Yorkshire - My first Ramble

My first walk with The Ramblers - 10 miles and 4.1/2 hrs with Carole, Tony & Mick who were very friendly and welcoming. We set off from High Hoyland on a circular walk through Clayton West, Deffer Woods , Cannon Hall Country Park and Margery Woods taking in some lovely views all the way.

Week 14 - Boxing, Pampering and a Walk in the Rain - A Funny sort of week!

Gavin introduced boxing into my training - another exciting new experience for me and I apparently have a very strong upper cut - so beware!.

My chiropodist friend Eileen gave me a pedicure in preparation for my trek and I am walking on air.....

None of my walking buddies are available this week - its the high holiday season and there is a house move and an imminent baby so I am left to my own devices - I decided to take a local walk -from Woolley to Wakefield and pay a couple of calls before returning home -15 miles and 5 hrs as it turned out! I walked in the relentless pouring rain to Horbury Road and had a very nice light lunch with my good friend Margaret - then on to Sandal where I had a short break and a cup of tea with my daughter and borrowed her dog to keep me company on my last leg home. All of the walk was on pavements and will I'm sure help in the preparation for the rocky trails in Peru, but I did miss having company and someone to talk to!

Week 13 - Ingleborough, Yorkshire Dales

5 Hrs and 11 miles with Ann & Patrick - a new 'toughest walk yet' ! Starting out from Clapham and the Ingleborough Estate nature trail over Little Ingleborough and climbing to 2,732 ft. Ingleborough is the second highest mountain in the Yorkshire Dales and one of the three Yorkshire Peaks. It was as challenging coming down as it was going up but very enjoyable with almost perfect weather, although it clouded over when we reached the top we could still see the other two Peaks Whernside and Pen-y-ghent - a challenge for another day maybe?

Week 12 - Scarborough to Robin Hood's Bay

7 hrs with James & Hannah - the toughest walk yet! - 15 miles. This walk is part of the Cleveland Way, one of the national trails of Britain (the second one established after the Penine Way) that begins in Helmsley onto Saltburn and down the coast to Filey, 110 miles in total. A roller coaster walk of sea cliff path hills with some steep climbing (shown left) - challenging but absolutely beautiful. We managed to avoid the forecast showers and actually had quite a bit of sunshine but were plagued with flies for quite a stretch!

Week 12 - Derwent & Howden Reservoirs Derbyshire

A 2.1.2 Hr walk again with Bernard. Setting off from Ladybower Dam with a steady climb up and over the moorland with superb views over Derwent and Howden reservoirs and dropping back down to walk back along the cycle path past Howden Dam (pictured).

Week 12 - Bretton Country Park

A 1.1/2 Hr walk with Sarah and Oscar. Again I am very fortunate to live so close to Bretton Country Park (just off junction 38 on theM1) where I love to walk regularly and always enjoy the views over the countryside from the different vantage points around the park. There is always something to enjoy at Bretton with its famous and fascinating sculptures.

Week 11 - Newmillerdam Country Park, Wakefield

A 2 Hr walk with Anne & Oscar. I am very lucky to live so close to Newmillerdam covering 237 acres of woodland and water with several very pleasant walks - just perfect for fitting into a busy schedule and one of Oscar's favourite spots.

Week 11 - Fulwood to Stanage Edge and Hathersage

An early start on a 5.1/2 Hr walk with Daniel from Fulwood to Stanage Pole, which marks the border between Derbyshire and South Yorkshire on Hallam Moors to Stanage Edge a famous location for rock climbers who were out in force! where we turned left over a craggy outcrop overlooking Burbage Valley. Dropping down through Burbage and across the sometimes boggy valley to our final destination - Hathersage. For the first time I am nursing a blister! Altogether very enjoyable exhilarating walk (despite the blister).

Week 10 - Hope to Losehill, Derbyshire

2 Hrs with Bernard and finally current news! A very challenging uphill walk for me from Hope to Twitchhill Farm, across to Losehill overlooking both Hope and Edale Valleys which was shorter than originally planned because of pending heavy rain and storms, which can be seen brewing in the picture. Making it back to Hope and lunch at the Blue Apple Gallery and into the car just as the heavens opened - the timing couldn't have been more perfect!

Week 9 - Bakewell - Chatsworth House, Derbyshire

3 Hrs - with James & Hannah - again setting off from Bakewell - A perfect summer day - where we saw the deer sheltering from the sun (in the picture), families picnicking along the river and a game of cricket, all in front of Chatsworth House. Ohh - summer days........ Then a little retail therapy in the fabulous shops at Chatsworth House and a walk along the river to Baslow where we caught the bus back to Bakewell and back home to watch the final of the world cup!

Week 8 - Curbar & Froggatt Edge - Derbyshire

6th July -4 Hrs with Bernard. An exhilarating walk along Curbar and Froggat Edge to Grindleford. Finishing off with the best Panini in Derbyshire at Coleman's Deli in Hathersage. The bonus at the end of this walk was to see the fabulous imaginative works of art of the villagers well dressing and scarecrow festival.

Week 8 - Monsal Dale, Derbyshire

4th July - 6 Hr walk with James & Hannah along the Monsal Trail, following the path alongside the disused Midland Railway line. Starting and finishing in Bakewell. From Monsal Head we took a detour - very steep (up and down) to Cresswell Mill Pond where the picture of the river Wye weir at Cressbrook was taken. Following the river through Sheldon and back to Bakewell. James and Hannah perfected an excellent 'push me - pull you' technique getting me over the stiles towards the end of the walk when my legs had lost their oomph !!

Week 6 - Briksdale Glacier - Norwegian Fyjords

16th June - 1.1/2 Hrs - How good am I training on my holiday? An uphill pull but what a brilliant experience walking right up to the Glacier and enjoying the stunning views on the way - with cake and coffee when we got back! (after all we were on holiday).

Week 5 - The Swastika Stone from Ilkley Town

May 30th - A 3.1/2 hr walk with James and Hannah. We have walked together before but this is the first of our Peru training walks. The walk starts with a pretty steep ascent up to the White Wells, a restored 18th century bath house (which is well worth a visit and can be reached from an alternative easier short walk). We continued our walk over the moorland and around the Swastika Stone taking in the extensive views across to Wharfdale, and having worked up an appetite we rewarded ourselves with a very enjoyable Italian meal at Piccolino restaurant in Ilkley before heading home!

You can't fire a cannon out of a canoe!!

As well as my walking training I also need to improve my general fitness, and a very brave young man called Gavin Wood of Esteem Personal Training in Wakefield has taken on his own personal challenge to get me fit enough to enjoy my trekking experience to the fullest. Gavin has put together a training programme focussing on my leg strength and general stamina to prepare me for the high mountain passes and altitude I will have to cope with in Peru. We are having two one hour sessions a week and I have made tremendous progress over the past ten weeks!