I DID IT!

I reached the finish line hoorah! I had to have an injection in my butt cheek for altitude sickness... (stop laughing its not funny... on a serious note it was unpleasant , the things I put myself through hee! hee!) Please continue to sponsor, me every penny counts. Thank you.

Hello Everyone,

Thank you  to all my friends and family, Sheffield Ramblers, Clare O and Sharon at Steps Physiotherapy Clinic and the fitness instructors at S10 Health  gym U-Sports, Nomad Travel Manchester and my fantastic fellow trekkers ( who I am missing) for all  your support and encouragement I could not of done it without you all.  xxx

I arrived with my fellow trekkers in Cusco, Inca capital in blazing sunshine, the first few days were spent acclimatising  to the altitude in Cusco town (3,350m/11,400ft) it was dry and dusty (didn't do my nose any good hee! hee!) and a visit to Pikillaqta  pre-Inca ruins where we took a gentle walk through the valley (getting us ready for what lay ahead).

 

D-Day arrives arrghhh ... The first day of the trek starts in the high mountains of Lares Valley, it was yet another hot day and the altitude starts to get hold of me .... we had doctor Jackie with us, next thing I know I'm popping pills in the Andean mountains ... I plodded along, up and down the mountain passes (can you imagine me plodding hee! hee!) and finally made it to the first camp site in the small village of Cuncani, thank god for small mercies. It took about 4-5 hours to reach camp (3,800m/12,600ft).

Woken up at the crack of dawn. . as I open the tent what do I see before my eyes a farmer herding alpacas and llamas .. Where's my camera?! ..... They are sooooo cute! After breakfast and packing up camp the 6-8 hour hike begins, gradually gaining altitude, oh lord here we go again .. my legs are like jelly. However the views are amazing, high mountain peaks large lakes and a splash of moving colour weaving up and down the passes, the local Andean people. Finally we reach our lunch stop, food mmm ..... time to resume walking again the sun is shining wild horses roaming... oh no I'm in trouble a steep descent is ahead (I hate going downhill). That's it I've had enough ( I tobogganned downhill twice on my arse).. hee! hee! I can't repeat what came out of my mouth. At last I reached camp with fellow trekker Carol phew!! Tonight was the night I had to have an injection in my butt cheek to combat altitude sickness, hee! hee!.... not nice!! We did get to meet the locals in the village of Huacahuasi that was a humble experience.

Morning beckons once more today is going to be a tough day as George our tour leader points to where we are heading (gulp). We are going to hike at a higher level. The sun is already hot and it's only 8am. Taking baby steps up the steep passes oh boy gradually gaining altitude can't breathe... help! Dr Jackie hee! hee!  Again the views are spectular through the little used route of Ranrayoc Valley. Alpacas roaming around wild geese sweeping and gliding above in the clear blue skys, the stillness of the mountains wow!. Something spectular has happened we have all reached the highest summit of the trek at 44270m, celebrations starts ... Charlie's saying "pinch me pinch me is it real?"..hee! hee!  Attention is drawn to us to look above, the sun's rays are spectular, quiet magical. We draw closer to camp and achieving the final goal ... Machu Picchu. The evening draws closer and its getting very cold, the stars appear in the crisp sky what a beautiful sight ...on the last day of camp.

We awaken from a very very cold night, I reach for my bottled water its frozen ... I know how it feels. One of the helpers comes to the rescue with hot cocoa leave tea (which tastes like Japanese green tea). Before we leave camp we say thank you to our brilliant support crew. Something I waited for throughtout the journey was to meet the local/school children who came to visit us at our camp, Challwacocha. Seeing their little faces light up as they were each given gifts of sweets, fruit, pencils, marbles etc was beautiful. We continue to walk to our next destination downhill (oh no) to Patacancha village ready for Machu Picchu the next day.

Finally the icing on the cake, the final destination in blazing hot sun here at last Machu Picchu .... I did it! We did it! I take myself off to a quite corner and feel the stillness of Machu Picchu's spirit, as I watch the butterflies flutter before me and the gentle sounds of the birds singing....

There were tears of laughter thanks to the unforgetable jokers of the pack Charlie and Wesley and the heartfelt memories shared with wonderful people. I am a lucky lady to have had this experience. Um.. what could be my next adventure......

Parv xxx

SURPRISE! SURPRISE! (no it's not Cilla Black) everyone has be entered into a prize raffle .... I will contact the lucky people whose names have been drawn.

A big thank you to all the local businesses for their kind support and generosity for donating the raffle prizes. Solo Art and Contemporary Craft Gallery - Sharrovale Road; Heather Dewick Bookbinder - Bank Street Studios; Collard Manson -  Division Street; Lush - Fargate; The Works Nail & Beauty Studio- Crookes. Littles Glitches (Sam) local music band. Saxs Hair Norfolk Row.

  

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

                                    HELP!

 

I'ts Parv here. I am embarking on a mad adventure on 10th September, trekking to Machu Picchu with Charity Challenge. I will be raising money for Save the Children - www.savethechildren.co.uk.

 

I will be trekking for 6-8 hours each day over 4 days in high altitude.  I've allocated snacks to try and stop myself from fainting, as knowing my luck I'd probably be revived with the kiss of life by an alpaca hee hee! 

 

As far as toilet facilities go, I'll be finding the nearest big bush (oh boy!) and I'll be camping in the evening with temperatures dropping to -10, I hope my bits don't fall off! hee hee!

It's all for a good cause though, so roll up, roll up.  Have a laugh at my expense but please sponsor me and make a donation.

 

Save the Children fight to ensure children receive the right to healthcare, basic nutrition, education and protection, regardless of who they are or where they are in the world.  I'm sure you would agree this a worthy cause.

 

Here's a history lesson, so listen up ...

 

It was the plight of starving children in Austria after WW1 in 1919 that prompted two sisters, Eglantyne Jebb and Dorothy Buxton, to take direct action to help and set up Save the Children Fund to provide emergency relief. To this day their work continues …

Did you know....

"our 1933 research report on Employment and the Child: An Enquiry showed mass unemployment affects childrens nutrition. We campaign for childrens rights to adequate nutrition until the Education Act of 1944 provided school meals and milk throughout the UK"

Better get back to clawing my way up the hills of sunny Sheffield and the rainy peak district ....

                                   Thank you all

                                      Parveen  

                                             xx

                

  

 

                          

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.