We arrived back yesterday 11th April following our amazing experience! We encountered many difficulties both practically and physically the main one being the lack of luggage! We were delayed by a day due to an airline problem and then arrived in
Lima minus our luggage. We had to do the trek with only basic equipment!! Luckily we had all travelled in our walking boots which was the key to our success!! We were supported by local porters and guides as well as our team leader Mark who is an Englishman living in . There were 8 of us in all. All very different but we were an excellent team. We dealt with everything together and supported each other throughout. We acclimatised for 2 days in
Cusco before taking the train to KM88 which was our first campsite. There we were introduced to our porters and the way of life we were going to be used to throughout the trek. The altitude affected all of us in some small way or another - I personally felt incredibly short of breath especially walking up steps. Yes there were steps - thousands of them hard on the lungs going up and hard on the legs and knees going down. I also lost my appetite and those of you who know me well know that that is a first!! In fact it is not good to not eat so we were encouraged to eat little and often if we couldn't manage meals. The views were spectacular. The mountains were truly amazing some with snow peaks still. The stars at night were wonderful - all back to front as we were so near to the equator. The vegetation was lush as it was the end of the rainy season so we saw varieties of orchids, flowers. plants and shrubs that I have never seen. Also the birds - humming birds of many varieties and parrots and parquets. Very beautiful but very noisy. Our last day saw us saying goodbye to our porters which was an incredible emotional time. They are such humble and hardworking people. They carried our equipment on their backs and cooked us meals under difficult conditions and were so happy to serve us. We were sad to hear that we would not be able to approach
Machu Picchu in the traditional way via the Sun gate as there had been a landslide. Instead we had to descend down the porters track and walk the last miles along the railway track into Aguaes Callientas a beautiful little town close to
Machu Picchu . We then visited
Machu Picchu the following morning. It is the most amazing place. Much bigger than I imagined and amazingly spiritual. We were presented our medals there at the lookout house another very emotional moment. All in all an experience I will never forget and new friends I will never forget either. In case you were wondering my luggage was at
Lima airport ready for my return journey!! It's incredible how we manage with very little!
Thank you all so much for sponsoring me to do this challenge. To be able to push myself and to raise much needed funds for an organisation I love so much is a great privilege. THANK YOU!!!
BEFORE THE CHALLENGE:
As the Director of Nursing for the Iain Rennie Hospice at Home, I believe it is a great privilege to be welcomed into patient's homes at the most difficult time of their lives. I have worked as a nurse for IRHH for over 17 years and have seen so many developments in the world of hospice and palliative care. I am still constantly motivated by patients and their carers and the way in which they meet the challenge of living with a life limiting illness. I am inspired by my work with other professionals as we strive together to meet the needs of the families in a health environment which is resource limited.
So, I am going to meet a challenge which will push my personal boundaries. I will test my physical stamina and my commitment and I intend to raise funds for our Hospice at Home service in its 20th year to help ensure that specialist nursing care is always available at home for those who need it.
What is this challenge? - well it's certainly not a relaxing holiday. I will be spending the time from now undertaking some basic training and I will need to prove that I am able to undertake the challenge. I will be trekking for 6-8 hours a day for several days with basic facilities at high altitude. I have been organising my own fundraising events over the past few months and will be looking for corporate and personal sponsorship for a cause I hold so close to my heart.
Many thanks for your support.
(We have raised a staggering £4652.25 from our Peru Trek fundraising events. Thanks to everyone who took part)
