This Way Be Dragons!: We've hit a brick wall...

A very very large wall in fact.

Today we got up super early and headed out to the Great Wall of China, an older part that was a little further out from Beijing. We were keen to get as far away from the masses as possible and it proved to be a great choice. The area of the wall we visited is called Mu Tian Yu and its about two hour drive from the hotel. So setting off at 7am we got there shortly after 9am ready to ride the chair lift to the wall. We were both so excited to be there, having grown up with tales about the wondrous wall, and although you cant see it from space as we were taught at school, it is still a stunning man made structure that just seems to go on forever. The clouds were low which unfortunately limited the visibility, but it was still spectacular. Did I mention its hot in China right now? Really, really hot? Well it is and after about 10 metres of walking up steps my shirt was already beginning to get a trifle damp, Twenty minutes later and I was really wishing I hadn't worn my white shirt which had now become completely see-through, a fact that seemed to delight all the Chinese tourists who laughed, pointed and repeatedly indicated to me as if I hadn't noticed. However I didn't get the impression there was anything malicious in their mirth and it all seemed good natured. Despite our discomfort and instant exhaustion, we climbed up and down stairs along the wall for an hour in one direction, before we had to turn back. It was absolutely incredible and the best day we have had yet. I'm sitting here now, knees aching, feeling shattered, and I'm beginning to worry that in less than 10 days we are climbing a mountain. Albeit a mountain with stairs, but a mountain nevertheless. Two hours of walking along the wall today has knackered us, how will we fair when tackling Huangshan which takes a fit person 7-8 hours to complete? Despite it all, I cant wait to find out.

Our provisions. Guess whose is whose...