We got up for a later breakfast. The fare was much the same as previous day's except that today we had the most amazing home made bread. It was part pancake, part muffin and Angela led a Western revolt were we ate them, not with traditional Chinese accompaniments, but with peanut butter and chocolate spread. There is a limit to how many fried eggs and salted vegetables she can take.

Today’s trek was on a more tourist friendly part of the wall. A fair bit of restoration has happened here so there was no mountaineering skills required today. It was an almost 4 hour trek, unremarkable other than our tour guide disappearing without any notice and someone demanding money from us to continue our walk (apparently his job). One strange scene was that two banqueting tables had been set up on top of one of the towers. As we passed it they started singing ‘Happy Birthday’ in broken English to someone.

After the trek we got back on the bus for a two hour drive to Huangyaguan and another guest house. On the way we stopped at a pharmacy to get some medication for Angela’s incessant cough. All of the women thought that this was a shopping opportunity so jumped of off the bus. They were very disappointed to find themselves in a Chemist. We managed to get some cough suppressant and antibiotics.

When we arrived at the hotel we were promptly told that we couldn’t leave the hotel grounds (a concrete compound) as we’d be arrested!

We were shown to a suite complete with full size executive desk, a non functioning tv and non functioning heat. There are holes in the walls and the wallpaper is falling off. A good dusting is needed. Perhaps we can tie dusters to the shield bugs and they can clean as the scurry around our bedroom. The toilet has no cover on the cistern but we are free from fear of electrocution from the shower. The shower IS hot and we have a kettle! We are here for two nights.

Dinner was good. Lots of delicious dishes along with a bottle of rice wine that Richard wouldn’t let Angela have because of the tablets he'd got for her.

The various bits of the wall are now starting to blend into one so we’re glad that tomorrow is the last day of trekking. It’s now 8.30pm. We’re already in bed because there is nothing to do here and we are freezing cold.