…well, we made it as you can see. How to describe our nine hour hike through rain, hail, snow and wind (sounds like a painting by Turner): unforgettable, challenging, painful (at times), breathtaking (literally), and undoubtedly the hardest physical experience of our lives. But we wouldn’t have missed it for world. When we reached the Salkantay Pass at 15,213 feet and formed a circle I think we all felt a real sense of personal achievement, I know I did. However I have to thank Carlos who stayed with me at the back of the pack and gave me some of his home made medicine to inhale to help my breathing; I couldn’t have done it without him. After our great group photo it was downhill all the way, and will be until Machu Picchu; hooray! The lunch tent appeared in the mist like a wonderful mirage and after lunch a further one and a half hours brought us to The Wayra Lodge, jacuzzi, dinner and bed. Not before we had celebrated Dennis’s 50th birthday, a day that he will never forget. I know you won’t be reading this for a day or two as we have no WiFi once again, but I’ll keep on posting although the countdown title will have to end as I clearly got the number of days wrong way back when I started. Now it will be the Trek Day number until we reach our destination. Thanks for all your positive thoughts and good wishes…