Day 1: INCA TRAIL (the EASY day) ___________________________________ SIG'S VIEW: It was a nervous start to the INCA TRAIL. Somehow our group of four had turned to two and my name resembled more a Japanise film star than a humble Yorkshire boy. Having actually kicked up a bit of a fuss we we're escorted to KM 82 and the start of the 4 day Trail. Our Group was small and sent from heaven. 2 tourists, an older couple maybe 30 to 40ish with a stomach on the guy that made me look like a supermodel! Bonet our guide, 4 porters no older than 20 and of course our escort: Senorita Sandra. Phew!! The official disregarded my lack of slanty eye's and stamped our tickets. We're ok! We're actually doing it! Motivated, pumped up and ready to go we infact sat down and enjoyed our, first of many, three course meals in the car park! Maybe it was over eating, a dodgy stomach or nerves but soon after finishing and setting off i was struggling my heavy bag on my back was killing me. We lost our porters no more than 15 mins into the trail and our Guide, Bonet, had told us to continue as she waited for them. Gently and steadly we climbed up along the mountain, Jerome - A Dutch Psycho Therapist, Romy - A Financial adviser and Jeromes girlfriend also from Holland, Vic and Myself in that order. Alone on the trail, maybe a few hours passed before we heard our first voices and the hope emerged that camp 1 was reached! We waited with a new excited energy. 'Oh this isn't so hard' Jerome churped. 'Easy' I Said. 'When's dinner?' Vic unsurprisingly announced. 'Hey there you guy's' Bonet caught us up, 'Slow down, you guys must have been runing' She said panting and in turn making us feel like athelets! 'If you keep this pace up you won't last the next 6km and make it to camp'!! ...and with those words it was as if my lungs had been removed, my legs bashed with wooden sticks and all my energy beamed up by scotty. No need to say the next 6km was long and tough, beautiful yes, but very long and tough. I stayed at the back to check everyone's ok - secretly to try and hide my almost erotic panting! As darkness was about to fall we reached camp 'Wallabamba' our tents already pitched we wet whiped the 'important bits'and dinner was served! as Vic drulled over the Popcorn, crackers, biscuits, and trout, i was shoched and entertained by a new romance?! A dog had taken a shine to a, rather cute if i do admit, pig! As we watched in amazment at the ergonomics of the affair, Bonet told us of a story of a animal half dog / half pig that had been seen on the trail. Amused, entertained and more than well fed, we hit the sleeping sack and unfortunatly drempt of walking!!! ______________________________________________________ VIC'S VIEW: Day 1 and I couldn't be more nervous. Although we have been doing some practice walks (1 to be exact) and we have been at high altitude for a while we are still not up to Inca standard by any means. We had a few problems with our booking for the trail which is also making me feel a little uneasy. Unfortunatly our friends, Mark and Jo, weren't booked on with us and this led to a few complications. Only Sig and I were booked and under completly different names, nationalities, ages and passport numbers. With only a few days to go and no time to change our details we had to just go for it. Apparently at the start of the trail there is a check point and things are very strict and so we had the manager from the agency accompany us. She was on hand to bribe the person at the check point and to let us pass on to the trail. Yes, we don't do things the easy way do we! It seemed to take an awfully long time to reach KM 82, where the trek begins. Our group consisted of our guide, Bonet, 4 porters (Richard the Chef, Gregorio, Herman and Victor) and Romy and Jerome from Holland. Bonet our guide adivsed us all to purchase walking sticks and although Jerome and Romy were not keen they did as they were told. After a 3 course lunch we were finally on our way! Our first obsticle was of course the check point but things went very well and we were soon traversing the Indianna Jones Stylie wooden wobbly bridge to join the trail. Trusty stick in hand and a stupid multi coloured "Michael Vaughn" tribute hat and I was eager to cover some ground. Before our trip I prayered for some fatties or an asmatic but nothing could top the likes of Jerome. He made us look like Sally Gunnel and Linford Christie (without the tan and the lunchbox). I don't want to be mean but I have never heard someone complain so much in all my life, and at his age! they blame the youngsters! I admit the terrain was hard but then this is the Inca Trail. We passed many other groups and I was glad to be in a 4. Bonet had a nice steady pace unlike other guides who seemed to be giving their group heart attacks. We had 1 archeological sight to visit on the first day and this was Llaqtapata. The view from the top of the mountain was amazing but we had no time to waste and we were soon headed for camp. The porters had gone ahead to set up for our arrival. Camp was Wayllabamba (la, la, la, la bamba!). I couldn't believe my eyes!! popcorn, biscuits, cream crackers, hot chocolate, tea... you name it we had it. And this was all before a sumptous dinner of soup, fresh trout and chocolate pudding (all made from scratch). My belly was happy and with our tent all set up for us we made our way to bed. __________________________________________________