Big Mountain Country & The Camping Gets Hardcore!

Just got back from another 4 day 3 night trek in the Peruvian Andes near the city of Huaraz.
I will start by saying that the mountains scenery and lakes were amazing but Christ it was hard work with the camping lark. My mate George thought the camping was tough on the Inca trail -I'm here now to tell you all it was 4 star my friends. It was good when sitting in a great coffee shop in Huaraz I looked up to see the flying dutchman, Mart who George mentioned was on the Inca trail with us. After a chat he was looking to go on the Santa Cruz trek same as me, so away we went. The start for me was slightly painful after one to many cocktails the night before!
We started with a bus ride to the start of the trek, my god I took a turn for the worst sitting there with a cold sweat thinking Christ this trek is the least of my problems. I managed to pull myself together especially with the views we had from the bus. Stopped off at a beautiful lake and at the top of a high pass with breathtaking views of the valley and snow capped mountains. Luckily the first day there was only 4 hours of walking to the first campsite. Half an hour before we got to camp we come across a bog and I'm not talking toilets! - chance would be a fine thing! After studying the layout I decided there was a solid mound I could jump over to. Wrong - I landed on it and disappeared up to my sodding knees in shitty water, I was absolutely soaked and not a happy bunny. To top it off I then melted my bloody shoes in the fire trying to get them dry but at least they were dry (crispy). You gotta laugh especially as the camp site was well primitive even for an hairy arsed building site worker. There was no toilet, no running water - only a nearby stream. Also my mate (the flying Dutchman) picked the crappest tent in the world. It was a small two man tent which was OK if you are a mummy or in a coma. The guide was also the cook, a good guy but not the quickest chef in the world. We ate at around 9.30 that night while the rain fell for an hour or so. You guessed it the tent was as waterproof as a wendy house. The whole sides of the tent were soaking meaning so was your sleeping bag but at least my melted shoes were dry. The next morning the tent was covered in ice and there was thick frost everywhere but when I got out that tent - the sky was totally clear giving amazing views of the surrounding mountains. The second day's walking was really hard going but the views were just amazing. We walked from a height of 3,700 metres up to a pass of 4,800 metres and, George, it was even tougher than Dead Women's pass on the Inca Trail. Again though, the view from the top of this pass with snow capped mountains right up close, with the valley below. After a cold night it was clear skies again the next day giving clear views of another range of mountains - me camera got a serious workout! One good thing was people went back to Huaraz early, meaning me and Mart got to choose a better tent. The difference was amazing to think a waterproof tent even though on the last night it did not rain, that's the Joe Mangel (gamble). After saying my goodbyes to Mart who was taking a night bus after the trek, sick man! I was in a bar in Huaraz - yes, the one I got in a mess the night before the trek. I was talking to some bloke when in walked Barney a guy who was on my Galapagos island cruise! He was with two girls and had also got back from a trek. I joined them for a drink and the early night I had promised myself went out the window. We went on to a club until around 2 a.m, its tough at the top!
Over all, a great 4 days and 4 nights. Funny how you soon forget the rough camping and just remember how amazing the trek was...
the bear

The Return of The Mighty George.

Well where do I start? Over the years Bear has been dossing about around the world I always said I would meet up with him somewhere, Everest for example but I never got out of bloody Stoke! So this time I bloody made it and what a great decision it was. Obviously the travel over there was a pain in the butt and to be honest a little intimidating at first. After the long flight it was a quick breakfast then off again to Cusco. Straight away when we arrived I noticed the altitude with me gasping for air a little at first. We then found a lovely hostel to stay near the main square not far from the local pubs! Cusco itself was a well smart place and was a really good base to explore the surrounding sites in which have got to agree with my mate that Sacsayhuaman was the most impressive even though when we got there I had some major sunburn on my neck, that's the gamble if you forget to bring suncream! The next day we went on a private trip to the Sacred Valley which brought us some more magical views of the mountains and by this time I thought Bears camera was going to blow up it was been used that much! Saying that though this is when I started to bond with my Fuji s5600 which Chris (2g's) Baggerly had lent me (nice one fat fingers). The highlight of the day was the Inca site of Ollantaytambo which was superb. Then the day had arrived - THE INCA TRAIL . We where picked up at 5am which was no problem after a cup of cocoa tea Christ that stuff is great for the morning! The first day we were told, was the easiest which was true but was no walk in Hanley park with much of it uphill & the heat of the sun bearing down on you. Then we get onto camping. Let just say I won't be rushing out down the local camping store to buy a tent. First night was a novelty which lasted about 5 hours! When that bloody cockerel kicked off. The second day was really hard work with the climb to Dead Women's pass but it was worth the sweat to get those views. Again as Bear says the third day was the best with the many Inca sites, different sorts of countryside and not many steep climbs. Mind you the decent down 1000 Inca steps was harsh on the old knees and I thought my left calf was going to explode. Then finally on the 4th day it was to the holy grail Machu Picchu. Up at 3:30 am after a crap nights sleeps in that bloody tent it was the final climb to what we had come for. To be honest I thought that all the guides etc where really building the place up too much compared to the already superb sites we had seen. WRONG - what a place, it takes your breath away (or was that the altitude again?) By this time I had become a right camera mad tourist and could not get enough shots of the place just awesome. All in all the Inca trail is the best thing I've ever done and would encourage anyone to save your pennies and get over there. The group we had were a great bunch and I think myself and Bear kept them entertained by our stupid humour. Although the Polish women had faces like a slapped arse most of the time which was a shame. Next day - what a come down! How do you top that? That day turned out to be a weird one which started with ourselves having to move hotels to a 4 star place! Then bumping into Martin the flying Dutchman off the trek, then whilst enjoying a beer & watching football with Bear & Martin 3 more fellow trekkers (Abbi, Rachael & Nigel) walk in the pub. As Bear said I got a little carried away but I think I will leave it at that! The second was a times hard work with all the striking going on around Arequipa (or harry kipper as it is known). Again it was a lovely city situated in a valley below a volcano. We dropped on another well smart hostel, I tell you the Bear finds the places. (are you reading Baggerly?) The Colca Canyon was another highlight with those bloody condors well impressive. Unfortunately then it was time to start thinking about going home. What a bummer! I was so tempted to stay another week or even to tell work to sod off but there you go I didn't and so last night I was back in the bloody Red Cow again, oh how the so called "mighty" have fallen. All in all I had the time of my life and it was great to see Bear on form again. We had a right good laugh and he might just see me sooner than he thinks.
You never know.
George.

(posted by coop on behalf of George)

Cuba

Cuba & Belize.

Peruvian George... he came, we saw, we conquered.

Well it’s been a great last couple of weeks with the Mighty George in Peru.
After a long journey he finally made it to Lima after a six-hour delay. It did not end there as I had booked a flight from Lima to Cuzco giving George a few hours sleep and some breakfast before heading back to the airport.
Welcome to Peru George.
Cuzco was a well nice spot with some good cafes and bars so we soon put them to the test. After a day kicking around Cuzco we went north of Cuzco to some Inca sites which were well impressive especially Sacsayhuman which had some massive stones built into a wall. The workmanship in the wall was amazing - them Incas had some bloody good brickies in their time, the stones fit together so well there was no compo or pointing up let me tell ya!
The views from the area were well worth the trip with Cuzco below and the valley with snow peaked mountains. A good day had by all.
We also did a trip to the Sacred Valley in a private vehicle for the day. Again the Inca sites and surrounding area was amazing. Nice to have a private guide giving us all the spiel on the Incas. Even managed to even fit some football in, watching the Copa America and George thought there would be no football!
On Thursday morning we started the Inca trail, which, I have to say now was on the whole a major highlight. The trek was four days and at times hard work especially the second day as it was all uphill. The highest point we climbed to was at Dead Woman’s Pass – at 4200 metres, it’s nearly as high as base camp Werrington! I think George will agree that the second day was the hardest but the third day had the best scenery. Oh and camping is shit, I’m sorry but it just is. Mind you without the ropey camping there would have been no comedy moments from George and The Bear. Some of the comments are not printable but they made the fellow trekkers smile. There was a good group of people on the trek, apart from the rude Polish women - mind you if I looked like them I would have a monk on to. On the last morning of the trek we were woken at the rude hour of 3.30am but after you your first view of Machu Picchu all the hard work is worth it. The place really lives up to the hype one of the places you must see before you die, awesome. The weather was a little cloudy but clear at first so that was all good then to top it all off the sun came out and the surrounding mountains and valleys were all in view.
It was good to almost have the place to yourself at first before the muppets come up on the train. Christ by midday it was like Butlins - time for the trekkers to head down to the nearby town and have a few well earned beers.
After the highs of the Inca trail and a day relaxing in Cuzco we headed south to Arequipa on a nightmare bus journey. Should have been nine hours turning into thirteen after the delays. My mate was struggling due to a late night out with some fellow trekkers. I went home like a good boy should, early, ready for the 06.30 start, my mate staggered in at 2am oh the smile I had when I woke him at 05.45. I will let him tell you all what he was up to till 2am bless him.
Arequipa was a bit of a nightmare due to the locals striking and putting rocks all over the surrounding roads. Not helpful when you want to do a tour to Copa Canyon. Still we managed to do it and got to see the giant condors which was cool, Christ they are big uns.
All in all it was great couple of weeks and brill to have my mate come over see me. It made me realise how much I miss the crack and the laughs - so nice one George it was a good un.
How was the Mighty George?
Well he kicked ass - I was impressed and to quote one of the fellow trekkers saying goodbye to George…
‘I will miss the comedy moments’
...the bear