Nov 25
Explored Asuncion, am about museamed and churched out now but had a nice day exploring and watching film, went out with group in the evening to a spanish place good fun. Paraguay is a lovely place much tidier than the other countries visited so far and most houses are finished insead of being left half done

Nov 26th
Left hotel at 6am this morning and travelled from Paraguay to Foz do Iguazu

Nov 23rd
Bus to Ponta Pora which is a boarder town between Brazil and Paraguay. Arrived about 3pm on Sun and unfortunately everything closes on a sunday so not much to do. We went for a walk after food, then back to hotel for a swim. however after viewing the pool we decided not to seim or use the hot tum (minging) Robin and i had an early night while jim had a drink with his buddies.


Nov 24th
Nearly all day travelling, got to Asuncion in Paraguay about 8pm and all went out for dinner. Nice place they had a singer but robin got tired and grumpy so i had to take him back to hotel about 10.30. Thought jim would stay out all night for karoke but he came home about half hour lkater

Nov 22nd
Went to a private lake resort. Had soooo much fun. robin loved every minite. There was a zip line over the lake which robin must have done 1000 times. There was also a diving board which i could not get robin to dive off but he did jump off 1000times as well. There were waterfalls and lakes and loads of fish and rivers, trees and grass and table tennis, footie and volleyball and loads and loads of other things. Just before lunch some people started feeding a group of fish where we were swimming and as Mick (our Irishman) put his hand down swimming he got bitten cause the fish had spotted his wedding ring. He did bleed quite a lot so we had to get out of the water for a while and robin was a bit frightened to go back in (killer fish) so i had to go first then it was back to normal and robin was away again. Cannot wait to swim and snorkel with him in Fiji and Aus, my water baby..
Jim did not see the water all day as he was sat by the bbq cooking and drinking. When i came to see him he said i should not drink so of course that made me have a few. Fantastic holiday day...
On the way back near the hotel spotted a tack shop so went in to look for unusual gear (they dress themselves and their horses really colourfully here)_ I ended up buying a lasso and then spending the evening with Robin trying to lasso the wooden horse. great fun. Jim moaned i had not gone and bought t shirts and gifts but i do not like that kind of shopping (sorry Trevor you were supposed to get a tshirt about the diving here) and i think jim should have shopped for that while i was looking as horse blankets, chaps and lassos.

Nov 21st
Got up quite early and had booked to go snorelling in a river, Rio de Prata. About an hours drive to get to the farm where we would get our wet suits and gear. We had to put our stuff on (not fins) and walk through the jungle to get to the river. The walk was very hot and uncomfortable and the guide kept trying to get us to look at the monkeys birds etc and educate us about the trees but our group of 8 just wanted to get to the water to cool down.
Arriving at the spring where we were to start was great. The water was crystal clear and you could see loads of fish even from the bank. We got told the rules (basically you could not put your feet on the floor and you must let the current carry you until told differently)
It was amazing during our time we saw loads and loads of fish, massive dorados and shoals and shoals of others. Jim went to touch one big one saw the size and amount of teeth and decided not to. It is a different world down there and i am glad robin got to see the tree roots and where the fish hide and swim, it was fantastic. I am also glad the caimen and piranah were not hungry. We ended the first part of our snorkel at the rapids (we had to get out just before they started and walk around them) Then back in the water. It is an indescribable world down there, swimming among the fallen down trees and living rooots of others seeing fish bigger than Robin and feeling a bit nervous about robin Fantastic.
We finished the next bit in an underwater volcano, but wearing the wetsuit made it quite difficult to swim down into it. The sand a t the bottom kept burping and bubbling so we had to go down to grab some. It was great fun.
We then went on the publkic part of the river which was as full of fish but not so clear and we saw loads more and then had to get out and dressed. Everyone had been amazed by our experience and time had gone too quickly. It was3pm and we did not realise, it seemed we had only been gone 5 mins. We got a truck ride back to the farm for lunch and then had a little time in hammocks and playing cards before being taken back to Bonito. Great day, unforgetable. Spent a bit of time in town, everyone here very friedly, feels like a real holiday, so hot . Phoned Michael cause its his birthday, lines bad here though.

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Nov 20th
Woke up in jungle early and went out for a walk about 5am but got bitten by loads of mosquitos so although i saw loads of wildlife i had to give up on walk as mosquitos were really uncomfortable even though i had sprayed with loads of repellent.
After breakfast we did pirana fishing. Was too hot for me so i went to the shade and took photos of the others catching pirana. Jim wanted to stay fishing all day but everyone started wilting and giving up after they had caught one. Jim had to be dragged away from the fishing to get on the bus as we had to leaving our farm today. We drove to Bonito which means beaufitful in Portuguese. Well i was feeling hot and sick when ii got off the bus so when i saw the worst room yet since we have been on tour i had a bit of a moan up but it did not really get me anywhere as all of the rooms were as bad.....Will have to spent loads of time not in room for next 2 days. Went out and is a lovely little town bit like Lanzarote, hot with shops open all night.

Nov 16th and 17th and 18

Spent the day feeling homsick after speaking to Yvonne dad paulina and tina. We left the hotel in Sucre heading for Santa Cruz at 2.30ish. However when we got to the airport they had cancelled our flight and there was a big panic cause there would be no more flights for days and no one wanted to miss the pANTANAL. iN THE END WE HIRED A COACH (FOR THE WORST JOURNEY EVER) AND missed out visiting Santa Cruz and headed straight for airport there and our connection to Pantanal. We did not have much time as it was 10ñhours by coach and our plane took off in 11 hours.
Our bus driver put his foot down and we made steady progress from 5pm to 11.30 when they stopped for some food. The toilets in the place we stopped go to the top of the list for the worst ever especially as we had to pay to,,,,How anyone ate any food there i do not know.
The journey from 1am was on a windy m ountain road and by 2am there had been a landslide and we were stuck in thick red mud and all got off the bus to push.. I thought it was too dangerous to get Robin off the bus as everything was sliding everywhere so made him stay on (i have never before witnessed such badly organised kaios its everyone for himself here) Well after a little digging we pushed from the back, then after a little more digging we pushed from the front and the driver started going backwards, unfortunately nearly over the edge of the cliff and my heart stopped. After that i got robin off the bus and he walked with me mountain side not cliff side which was still quite dangerous. We walked past the landslide muck and rubble and all got back on the bus and were off again. My seat was cliffside and i had to get up and move as i truely believed we were going over cause loads of bits of road had just fallen away it was scary. However i was getting too tired smaelly muddy and fed up to care.... Thought we were going to miss Pantanal which everyone had been looking forward to.
There were more landslides and we got off the bus with robin and watched as it drove about 12foot up over the landslide rubble toppling from side to side as it went. it also went over a bit of a bridge and leaned over to the left so much how it did not fall off into the abyss i will never know. Everything was rubble and soggy wet thick clay and it all came back on the bus with us .
As we left the mountain road we all had a bit of a snooze. Then we had a puncture. It was 9am and our plane took off at 10. We got our luggage and jumped into taxis, there were only 2 taxis available for 17 of us and our luggage. It was a bit squashed and very hot to say the least. The taxi drivers knew we had to be at airport and really went for it, we flew over the speed bumps and everything. Our tour guide was on Jims phone trying to get them to hold the flight for us...
O happy days, we made it, flight had been delayed and they just took our luggage and put us on plane, no checks or anything... How glad we all were we could relax soon. Goodbye Bolivia (thank god) hello Brazil...

Our first ride in a Brazillian taxi was an experience, they are all quite mad and terrible drivers... even worse than me, but we all arrived at our hotel in Pantanal safe and although we had been travelling for 24hours went straight out on a boat trip to see caiman and animals along the river, it was great. I had already been for a walk (as others wanted a bit of a beer after the journey) and seen loads of birds, caiman, tapir, the largest rodent in the world and monkeys as they have a walkway around the farm. Its really hot here but fantastic. Once out on the boat some decided to go for a swim (think it was the beer that made them brave) as the water looked cool but dirty and full of piranh and caiman. Robin wanted to follow Jim into the river but his had a cut and i would not let him go so had to stay out myself to be fair but robin still sulked with me for the rest of the day and i wish that someone had got eaten to robin would have understood why i would not let him swim.
All got safely back to farm and had a great evening

Nov 19th

Got up early and into jungle bus and travelled to another farm. On the way saw loads of wildlikfe including snake and tucans very close and then went with guide for a walk through the jungle. Unbearably hot but great all the same. Different type of jungle to the last one as this one goes 5ft underwater in the rainy season.
In the afternoon we went horseriding through the swamps which was a bit scary at time cause the horses sensed things before i did and i just wondered how close we were to snakes and things, Am less scared now than i have ever been as i know that they run away from us.
Slept for 20 mins in a hammock for the first time ever, was a bit hot and sweaty. Had to check ourselves for ticks after our ride as the horses had loads on them. The jungle/Pantanal is really beautiful but although its autumn it really is unbearably got. I would love to spend loads more time here but do not think i could manage the heat in the summer.


Nov

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Webbs World Tour 4
Nov 18, 2008by Paulina
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Sun 2nd Nov
Up very early to leave jungle. The night sounds in the jungle are very loud and sound more like a cd turned up high than real. At about 2.30am something got murdered (or was nighttime snack for something else) An unbelievable noise went up really really loud and then silence for a few seconds, then back to normal.
Would have liked more time in the jungle and less people on walk as if you were at the back you missed the animals at front as the noise scared them away by the time you got there (good job we were at front hey)

Mon 3rd Nov
Got on coach in Cusco at 8am and travelled to Puno. Arrived about 2.30pm and there was a festival going on so we had to grab our bags and walk a few blocks to hotel as taxi could not get through the masses. Punoseems like a lovely place but we do not get a lot of time here. Went for a walk and enjoyed the parades, very colourful and the dancing (they never stop) but after dinner had to pack to be ready for an early start to Lake Titicaca tomorrow.

Tuesday 4thNov
Amatani Island. Left Puno hotel to go to the docks in a local limo.. a man on a byclcle at the back and 2 people under colourful canopies and on a colourful seat at front. It was good fun as we went in convoy and were egging on our men to win race.

Docks were good but boarded snmall boat quite quickly and went to first island where the men knit. Some beautiful views and a long walk at high altitude. Lake Titcaca where these island are is the highest navigable lake in the world. After luch we left that island to go to Amatani to stay with local families. Met ours, a nice coupld with four daughters from two to eleven and saw where we would be staying. Never mind. Then went and played footie with locals. Robin was a star and a great time was had by all. Lots of cheating mind so I felt quite a home. Then ourfamily came to get us for dinner then we dressed as locals and went to a dance. a very colourful dance and very tiring dance Robins was tired and ratty and wouldnt dance though the girls kept asking. Said to him one day you will ask a girl and she wont dance and you will feel like these girls feel now. Saying no for a dance not good.

We had outside toilet but lovely views and sounds on island. These families may be poor but they are happy and stress free. The kids never bath so they must be happy..(according to robin)
I was up really early as the bed was so uncomfortable and sat in the sunshine playing with the four girls and had a nice time. Then it was breakfast and time to go. We were told not to tip the families but our family were in need so we did anyway. How they survive on the food they gave us i will never know

Weds 5th Nov
Then the boat to visit some of the man made floating islands on Lake Titicaca which was interesting. These islands are made from reeds and anchored to living reeds and there are hundreds of them and loads of people living on them. Kids get boats to school and sometimes their houses (made from reeds) have to be remade 5 times a year. Went from one island to another on a reed boat. You can feel bits of the island sinking depending where you tread but they just put down more reeds. Then back to Puno for the evening to pack again and go and watch the continuing festival.

Thursday 6th Nov
Left Puno at 7am on bus and made our way through some lovely scenery to the border with Bolivia and crossed on foot and then got back on bus. Got delivered to Copacabana for lunch. I would be a lovely holiday destination one day when its finished. Then back on the bus to the ferry crossing.
Well I cannot describe the ferries, the bus went on one and we went on another. Thought we were going to sink then looked at the bus which was on a raft and very lopsided in the wated and felt luckly i was in the boat...Took some pictures as it was quite unbelievable andd impossible to describe. Arrived safe on other side then back on bus and into La Paz about 5.30pm. Went out for a group dinner as some of group leaving next days. Jim down with tummy bug so he couldnt eat but robin had a lovely juicy steak (good food hard to find here)

Fri 7th
Walk round La Paz. dirty, smells of piss everywhere, beggars and markets.

Sat 8th Nov
Chilled during day. Robin crying in the night with an earache. I was out looking for a chemist at 7am on Sunday 9th
Sun 9th
Had to wake the rep at 8am to call a doctor for Robins ear infection and the doctor was with us by 8.30the medicines he prescribed were delivered by 9.30. He is really ill. Supposed to take medicine with food but Robin is not eating. Lunchtime we took Robin who ate a few chips and threw up in the restaurant, from top floor to bottom...Had to meet everyone at 1pm to leave La Paz and Robin was very weak. Spent 31/2 hours on bus and then 9 hours on train. Robin looked a little better when we got to our hotel at 3.30am andslept until 8.30am. Looks much better and eats some breakfast.

Monday 10th Nov
Got into 4 wheel drive jeeps to go to the Salt Flats and Salt hotel at Uuini. our first stop was a train graveyard. Loats of trains just left to rot as mining stopped. Jim wanted to take it all and sell for scrap... Then off to a salt factory. The salt flats are endless as far as you can see and you have to wear sunglasses or you would not be able to see cause its so bright. We went to a salt factory and saw how they dried, grinded and packaged the salt. Then drove to the middle of the flats to take some amazing photo and have lunch. We then went to our hotel made out of salt. Bit basicbut never mind only one night here. Robin much better antibiotics working.
In the afternoon went to visit a cave. It was only discovered in 2003 and we met the man who found it and it was amazing. Where years ago the salt flat area was a sea the cave was coral and looked like it should be under the sear for the fish to swim in and out of and brightly coloured plants to grow on and the ceiling looked like spiders webs, all fragile and delicate. It was unlike any cave Ive seen before but it needs protecting as people were allowed to touch, break off bits and use flash photography.
We then went to a pre inca burial site which was also interesting. The day was educational but the hotel is dire and lights out is a 9pm. I feel like i am back at school. Robin is so so much better, glad i got doctor when i did as he is eating againthough not very much as the food here is bloody awful.

Tues 11th Nov
Left salt hotel. Jim got up to go see sunrise on salt flat but i stayed with robin as he has been quite poorly and did not want to get up at 5am. We were driving to Fish Island when we saw a 4x4 that had gone off the path and was sinking in the salt/marsh. Of course Jim took charge and my hero tried his best to get that vehicle out but after an hour and 1/2 we had togo on.
Saw an amazing volcan and cactai 1.000 years old. Have also seen quite a bit of furniture made from cactus over here and its not a bit prickly.... (they have no exclaimation marks on their computers)
One of our vehicles then ran out of petrol so all our lot had to cram in the other 2 4x4s a bit of a squash to say the least. and for 2 hours. Jim made his car stop so he could 'go' What an embarassment... Am going out for pizza now but just looked at some photos taken today and yesterday and they are great.

Weds 12th Nov
Long bus ride along a very steep and thin road with a very sheer drop. 8 hours on bus, felt ill. Scenery great but quite frightening looking out of window to see pervious busses at bottom of ravine. (you would think they would remove so as not to frighten tourists....)
Arrived Potosi, seems nice town - had to choose from Spanish menu and got a bit wrong.

Thurs 13th Nov
Ill all night and day. Jim took Robin for food and to see the mint in Potosi. Robin told me all about it when he got back. I am glad they did not go on the silver mine tour as health and safety is not known of over here and there is probably asbestos in there too. Potosi was once the richest city in the world cause of the silver mines but it all went to spain in the 1500s.

Friday 14th Nov
Jim went karoke last night and had a blast he is looking much better. Back on a bus to Sucre. Still feeling crook but most of the tour is down sick and must look on bright side, I might even lose some weight. Went to dinner as a group and had a great time. I brought robin home about 10 and Jim went clubbing.

Sat 15th Nov
Jim wants more karoke and less discos.. We went rock climbing at 8.30 this morning and robin was fantastic. I took 3 immodium and ate something thinking it would give me energy to climb.
Was sick on the way up to the climbing place. Jim did one climb, i did 1/2 a climb twice, and robin was a star. The first climb he did was slow but after that there was not stopping him and he was so flexible its untrue. He loved it and it was good to see by the end he was absailing down quickly with big jumps, fantastic.
This hotel is nice and we are going on a city tour this evening Sucre is the capital city of Bolivia and its nice, not smelly like the others. Talking to Robin today he said if he goes round the world with his kids he is going to miss out Bolivia and i think that means he has learned something. Hope we all feel better soon

Sat 1st Nov
Got up really early for a long walk through the jungle. Last night while looking at the map the guide was asking did we want to do the 5km or 71/2kmwalk. Jim suggested we did both cause instead of doing a trek back the same route it made sense just to do an extra 21/2km roundwalk.
Everyone agreed.... However the 71/2km wak is not done very often so is not so much of a trail. Off we set with our guide with Robin close behind cause he had never seen such a big machete...and did not want to be far from it. We saw monkeys and big big butterflies straight away. Then Robin started screaming... He had been bitten and because we did not know by what we stood still looking for whatever it was that had stung him. Big big mistake. When a wasp stings you you have to run away to a safer place then sort it out.. Because the 71/2km walk is not used often the wasps make their nests near or on the path so when we disburbed them they got angry and stung. Anyway Robin was ok and quite brave and we continued walking quickly past the red ants and some people in our group including Jim ate termites (taste minty apparently) Th guide was really good pointing out trees plants and animals then....another wasp nest...We all ran....Most people got stung at least once (me and robin missed them this time..ran fast..)some people got stung more than one and some girls screamed worse than Robin, it was quite comical really. Everyone else getting stung seemed to make Robin braver and hewent to the front to search for the anacondas (I do not think he knew anacondas were snakes)

Jim was very mpressed the way the guide teased the trantulas out of their holes with a piece of stick and I must admit they were verybig very hairy trantulas. Robin kept his distance.

I was impressed by the 'justice tree'. A tree that has ants that sting you living in it. If you tap it or put your hand on it the ants come and bite you. This was an instrument of torture and death for the indigenous people. Scary horrid punishment.

Finished the first 71/2km and went up a hugh tree and saw the rainforest from above. It was like giant umbrellas everywhere, you could not see through them to the forest below, just the blue sky above.

We then went for a ride in a canoe through the swamp. Saw loads of terripins, turtles, butterflies, birds and fish, luckily, no snakes.. Quite scary but our guide was great. Then we started the 5km walk back to the lodge. This trail was a little more obvious than the previous trail and a little easier to walk. We saw a yellow snake (small and scared of us)(thank god= a poisonous millipede, howler monkeys and more ants and trantulas and it was extra fantastic cause we saw no wasps. We were all tired when we got back to the lodge and had a quick wash and lunch (we were all very smelly and hungry.)

We then went out in another boat fishing for piranah. We never caught any though one girl on boat Barbera caught a small catfish but it was loads of fun and very relaxing. Around the lodge before dinner we spotted all sorts of birds and lizzards and .. a rodent.. Robin stayed up late playing cards in the bar with his card gang..

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You are invited to view Paulina's photo album: Webbs World Tour

More, much much more, to follow!!!

Thursday 30th Oct
Up early and out to visit the Sacred Valley of the INcas. Was really interesting and saw many ruins of the incas, different building types and great panaramic views. Loads of steps again, why are there so many big steps in Peru.

Friday 31st Oct
Gopt up really early and at the airport at 8am for flight to the Jungle. flight was delayed so i went shopping at airport and at an exhibition thought i would have a look through some weavings and I fell in love with one so bought it. Still feel pleased thinking about it, it will be a really lovely memory of Peru and everytime i look at it it will remindd me of here.
Eventually caught flight to Puerto Maldonado and got on a jungle bus to the canoe place (motorised and set off on our 2 hour journey to our eco lodge down the Madre De Dios river. A lovely ride to a lovely place with the main lodge, swimming pool and lots of little lodges on stilts. our lodge was puma. no hot walter and all electricity off at 10pm and not on again till 7am. had lunch and dived in pool what a shock, i thought it would be heated, will not make that mistake again.
Went on a trip to Monkey Island and saw loads of monkeys and tamerins. in the evening we went caiman spotting in dark, bit like rabbiting. where do they all go to during the day i wonder. after dinner we sat in bar for a while then so knackered went early to bed. never in my life have i had so many early nights and early mornings.

Weds 29th
Up at 4.30am for the final trek to Machu Pichu, wheather is overcast and drizzle. After the soaking yesterday we feel quite cheerful that today cannot be as bad but by 5am its raining and we are about to start walking. I had thought it was a short walk today but we walked from 5am to 9.40 and were tired, cold and thinking just another step, one step at a time when upon reaching a peak (and we had reached many peaks and troughs) I glimpsed Machu Pichu. It was amazing, breathtaking unbelievable but then it was gone. Covered by cloud and rain but I had glimpsed magic and had new energy to go on. Felt a bit sorry for Jim as he had carried his flag all this way for a background shot of Machu Pichu and all he got was a background of cloud. It was really magical and i am glad we got a few second glimpse of the site from above. Still we know we were there, will never forget. The rain did not seem to matter on that final decent to the ruins and on half hour later we were having tea and the best sandwich ever (so hungry were we) and having a bit of a rest before we toured the ruins. It was a great tour and we learned loads about the Incas and their way of life, once again our guide was fantastic and knowledgeable. Robin answered the most questions, he has obviously not been too tired to listen at all the other sites.
By 1pm we were taking the bus to Aguas Calientas where we got dried out and spent a little time writing postcards and checking e mails before we boarded the train back to Cusco at 5pm. What an experience, I just hope jim will come to appreciate as he thinks we are a bit mad to do all this at the moment. On the train we met another couple joining our tour who are from Haverhill,Newmarket, what a small world.
Jim keeps saying he wished he had done Michu Pichu by train but i do know in time to come he will be glad we did the trek. Robin has walked in the footsteps of the incas and i am glad we did it that way even if it was a bit tough, wet and uncomfortable

22 Oct
Arequippa, great day, visited the convent, Jim took loads of pictures and then went to the museum to see Juanita the oldest mimmy found a couple of years ago in the mountains near here.


Thursday 23rd
Left Arequippa early, headed for the Chivay area and Colca Canyon. Went through some lovely national parks, saw llamas and alpacas as well as the usual cattle sheep and chickens and farming terraces. We are going to be at 4,900ms high, our highest part of our journey today. Our guide kept saying that the Colca Canyo is the deepest and biggest in the world but its not as wide or long as the grand canyon usa. We arrived at a nice hotel about 3pm and went for a walk in the mountains and met some local children who sang for us. Saw loads of donkeys and baby donkeys here and got a bit homesick. Kept thinking of Paulina, donkeys and shrek. But it was a lovely evening spent in front of a log fire.

Friday 24th
Left Colca Canyon very early and went high into the mountains to try to spot andean condors. We saw 3 in the distance but the weather was quite bad so we set off on the bus for our next sight and we had to stop for one girl to go loo (you will be glad to know it was not me) Well as we stopped there was a condor flying very low and near the bus. The bus driver went to open the door for me but our Toucan Rep told him to shut it so i had to force it, but it was so worth it to get close to the condor, it was breathtaking. We saw may sights, salt mines, mountains, terraces, glaciers but nothing that blew me away quite as much as the condor. Went back to Arequipa for the night.
ps if anyone is thinking about a trip the toucan rep we have is the most miserable guide ever and is you should dare to ask a question she says ´´´look at your sheet´´most helpful.

Sat 25th
Flew to Cusco, felt so ill (tummy) that i just went to bed when we arrived in hotel. Immodium not working and start the Inca Trail tomorrow. Will do it though ad finish whatever. Missed Cusco completely though Jim and Robin went out and saw some sights and a festival with lots of fireworks.

Sunday 26th

Got up very early and got a bus to the kilomenter82 or the start site of the Inca Trail. Arrived about 10am and had our bags weighed ad passports checked then we were off, eager and excited though i was still fragile as had not eaten for 24hours. Up we went and up and up, short of breath we got and shorter and shorter and up and up until we started to wonder what we had let ourselves in for. We were determined to make it and the weather was kind, a beautiful day so the views were great every time we got to the top of a hill but there was always another top to get to. Everyone was in a happy mood, loads of photos and chatting early on but we started saving our breath later as oxygen is in short supply at altitude. Getting to the campsite was great and its amazing how the porters have lunch ready then pack everything up and then go the campsite to get supper ready. The guide gave me a magic pill and I tried to eat that evening and kept it down. The tents were little 2 men things and we dined with tables and chairs in a big tent. The poor porters carried unpacked put up and packed and carried again but we were so grateful we did not have to carry much as the altitude really takes it out of you. Great day, tiring, will sleep well even in a tent.

Mon 27th
Met all our porters this morning in a nice little ceremony. Were told that today would be the hardest day and we would pass the point of no return. Also the highest point. It was hard but not as hard as the day before. Saw deer birds plants trees and the views and it kept your mind off the lack of o2. When we reached the highest point Jim wanted to take a picture with his ´flag´but i had taken it out of the day bas (as it was too heavy the day before and i wanted to lighten the load) Jim was so upset when we got there arnd he found out he did not have the flag I really really wished i had carried it. The views were tremendous and well worth the energy of the walk. Can´t believe how the porters were running past us carrrying such heavy loads. When we finished for the day we were exhausted but happy. Robin had not walked with us he was up the front with Conner and Andrea who looked after him so well. A really lovely couple.

Tues 28th
Slept well, so tired, up early and walking. The rain started and got steadily worse all day but there is not stopping. By midday every bit of us was wet through and we had to keep walking. As we put our feet down water was streaming from the rocks abouve straight into our boots from the back it went inside poncho, hats and knickers everywhere was wet, there was no let up. We saw no birds or animal as they obviously did not want to be out in the torrential downpour. We had to look at the floor as the path was uneven and the drops off the mountain sheer, sometimes the path was only 6 inches wide and had overhanging rocks at head hight and a sheer drop to the right. Its a wonder they do not have more accidents. There is no such thing as health and safety here... Jim struggled with his knees today and we both wondered why are we doing this. Especially at 5pm when we arrived at camp soaking wet and freezing, cold and shivering. I had to go to bed with Robin straight after tea there was no way i wanted to leave the tent and get wet again.