Well the day finally arrived day one of the Inca Trail. We started at 8am and took an hour bus ride to the starting point KM 82. There are only two ways into Machu Picchu - walking in or catching the train. Today we start at km 82 on the train track into Machu Picchu - we got our passpots stamped at the checkpoint and headed on in. We havea big group altogether - there are our two guides Roberto and Consuela, 19 porters carrying our stuff, 2 chefs and 1 waiter and us 11 walkers!!!!! Today was quite an easy walk around 6 hours, Roberto called it out Snake day-not too much up and down just wandering around the mountains. We arrived at our camp at 4pm and the tents where up and then the porters brought us warm water to wash and soak our feet That night we had a lovely dinner and the chefs had made Euge a cake. It w as great way to finish off the first day.

The second day came bright and early after an OK nights sleep.  The tents and sleeping bags were really warm but its like being a mummy in the sleeping bags constricted for space.  We got woken up at 5am with a hot drink and some more warm water to wash in.  The we headed off for breakfast and were on our way by 7am.  Today Roberto called our Puma day lots of going up hill.  The day started off pretty well the weather was lovely infact quite hot so the suntan cream got slapped on!!!!  After 4 hours of up hill we arrrive at our site for lunch.  This is when Jacqui´s stomahce turned bad - major cramps.  She took a couple of tablets and we set off - a 2 hour climb from 3800m to 4200m - dead womans pass!!!  Well without Euge Jacqui would not of made it up the mountain.  He carried her bag and pushed her up some of the way!!  Roberto provided the encourgaement and the medication to stop the cramps!!! Jacq says its the worst pain she has ever felt!!! But she made it after 3 gruelling hours!!  After that it was 2 hours downhill all the way to camp.  We got to camp quiet late - only 15 minutes of daylight left.  Dinner again was lovely but Jacqui didn´t eat much as now she had acid reflux!!!  Apparently all related to the altitude   Roberto decied we need to set off ealry as it had taken us so long to make the 2nd day - so we headed to bed for a start of 4.30am!!  A few of us had found the 2nd day tough going!!!!!

Day 3 came early and Jacqui felt OK ISH!  We all set off at 6am after a small breakfast.  Jacqui was feeling sick, Jonathan was feeling sick and the other Jacqui was struggling on her breathing!!!  What a bunch.  So our little group headed of up the mountain to keep up he pace so the others weren´t held up.  Our tow pace makers were Joan and Yolande and we took Consuelo our second guide with us.  Besides feeling ill we had a pretty good time going up for a couple of hours and then snaking around mountain and going down for 4 hours!!!  This day was toughest on the legs.  Again Euge carried Jacqui´s pack for most the day - he wanted some physical pàin he said!!!!!!  The group walked for 11 hours and made it to the camp to find hot water for the feet and popcorn!! Amzing what they can do in the middle of nowhere!  That night we had a lovely dinner and had a little get together with the porters and staff to thank them for all there work for us