As a new year approaches, we look forward to fresh challenges as well as taking stock and reflecting on the past year, the highs, the lows, the successes and the regrets.
One of the greatest challenges of my life so far took place this year in October 2011.
At the beginning of the year I agreed (some would say foolishly), to spend 8 days with Kate, a dear friend of over 20 years. 2011 was a big birthday year for Kate and she wanted to remember it with a challenge – something different and special. The challenge she and I chose was to trek along part of the Great Wall of China with the Have a Heart appeal, the aim was to raise money for Children’s Hospices throughout the UK.
Our black Labrador, Lulu became my training soul mate, though if I say that she did NOT end up as a finely tuned animal with pert muscles and the speed and stamina of a greyhound, perhaps you will have some clue as to how fit I actually was when I checked in at Heathrow for the Cathay Pacific Airways flight!!
Beijing is a fast paced crazy city with drivers who have a total disregard for observing any traffic regulations, other drivers, their vehicles, but most terrifyingly pedestrians who are attempting to cross the 18 lane crossroads with a flashing green man, which apparently is invisible to anyone inside a car! Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City were a real highlight of the first day, especially as one was cocooned in relative safety from having to cross another road for at least 2 hours!
The following morning a four hour drive north west took us into rural China and here the real work began as we all donned our trusty worn in walking boots and began the testing climb up Heaven’s Ladder. This steep narrow stepped part of the wall was a clever introduction into what lay ahead and shut all of us up as we concentrated on reserving our stamina and energy for the wall.
Each night the accommodation took basic to a new level and on one occasion as we finished an 8 hour day the anticipation reached fever pitch as our less than competent guide advised us that the farmers cottage block we were to be sleeping in that night had been demolished! The good news was that there was another block, but we would all need to double up. The funniest nights were spent relaying the bedtime conversations had by the previously unmet Moslem postman from Wolverhampton, the gay PA to the Dean at one of London’s Universities and the Toilet Roll factory worker from Essex who ended up sharing a large bed together in the farmers office which had 101 Dalmation curtains and Aladdin bedsheets.
The group dynamics were a fascinating part of the trip and a challenge which I had given no forethought to whatsoever but for some people were as difficult as the Wall itself! The ages ranged from 18 years old to approximately 60 years and the fitness levels were about as spread out too!
Our Chinese guide Alan was exceptionally informative and entertaining and even made the tedious parts of the journey enjoyable with his surprisingly witty comments, good humour and continuous attempts to explain the timings and differences of each dynasty, it’s ruler and their relationship to the Wall!
Each day which passed held a different challenge and the terrain we trekked was equally varied, some days 100 year old slab stones with wall each side, other days saw us clambering up a steep mountain along a narrow path to reach a dilapidated part of the wall over 600 years old. Some days the wall was completely overgrown and we trekked along the path just to the side of it which had naturally formed from the thousands of footsteps which had made their way along for hundreds of years before us and will continue for hundreds of years after us.
The part of the wall we mostly walked was through uncommercialised rural China. The views were breathtaking, the land as far as the eye could see was mountainous and naturally beautiful, the sheer length of the wall was incredible, I found my mind wandering and imagining the men and boys who have over the centuries given their best years or in many cases their lives to build this 6000 km phenomenon visible from space!
On the final day we set off very early and walked through a typical Chinese farming village where every last square inch is farmed for vegetables or keeping chickens and after an 8 hour trek ended up at Mutianyu, which is one of the longest stretches of restored wall on the outskirts of Beijing. Here we screamed our way down the famous toboggan ride, feeling relieved and exhilarated at completing the challenge a very welcome treat after such a physically and emotionally demanding week.
I spend each of my working days in travel and although those days are obviously centred around Africa, the China Trek opened my eyes to how group trips are commonly run and how we at African Space can and do run ours. I believe we are in a different league and need to shout a lot louder about what we do.
I look forward with real excitement to 2012, Seychelles in February to check out new hotels for the African Space 2012 portfolio. Then in April – South Africa beckons. Cape Town, the Garden Route, cage diving with sharks, superior tented accommodation at luxury Game Lodge Buffelsdrift near Outshoorn, Plettenburg Bay and then up to Durban, safari at the beautiful White Elephant Lodge in Pongola Game Reserve and then onto share the wedding of the year with Mark Gillies (our Managing Director) and Caroline Storm, his lovely lady.
Bring on 2012 I can’t wait.
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