Part 8 Inca Trail THE JOURNEY ENDS!

OK! Finally! We're done! 5:30AM, we walked to the bus for the ride to Machu Picchu for the hike up to the top of Waynapicchu . As you can see the stairs were very narrow. It was foggy which was a blessing for me...I didn't like seeing straight down...my son made it to the top in 1/2 hr! Me, it was an hour, but I made it! It was so much easier that the Inca trail. It was cooler, I wasn't carrying a backpack, I wasn't trying to keep up with a group, don't get me wrong, it was still hard and I still had nothing to eat since we started this trek and I was using up alot of energy! I got to the top, went through a cave, I was later to find out was called the 'moon cave,' came out the top (dying and rebirth) and instantly began the climb down. For me, it wasn't about arriving; it was about the journey! It was about "Anything is possible!" If you know what Waynapicchu is in your life...you can climb it! You CAN get to the top! If you have a goal, you can reach it! You simply take baby steps, rest, ask and receive support...ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

Part 7 - The Inca Trail

The question has been asked? Did I get a t-shirt for making this trek? NO! But what I did get was this incredible view....the last one in Machu Picchu at night. Pretty incredible. As I was trying to keep up with the tour guide as he was running down the trail, in the near dark to try and make the bus, I was consciously trying to place my feet on the stones paving the path so as not to twist an ankle. One last stop and my picture was taken overlooking Machu Picchu. I arrived...the last on the bus and I sat next to my son. I was exhausted; emotionally & physically. Tears began to roll down my cheeks. I tried to tell him about my rush to try and make the bus, but I had to stop...I said, "I can't talk about this right now, there's not enough oxygen to cry!" There was not enough oxygen to take a breath in. We arrived at our hostel and had a meeting for the next day. My son wanted to climb Waynapicchu....you see...that really big mountain in the background! Not one other person on the tour wanted to go! After taking 4 extra strength tylenol so I could move....I asked the question...."Do you think I could make it?" The guide looked at me and said, "Anything is possible!" So dinner, which I didn't eat...still not feeling well...sleep and up at 5:30AM to be one of the first 400 to climb Waynapicchu!

Part 6 - The Inca Trail

OK, no wonder I'm so tired! Intipuncu or Intipunku is an Incan Trail connected to Machu Picchu. The term translates as "Gate of the Sun" or "Gateway of the Sun., Wikipedia called it a trail, but it definitely had lots of stairs! It was the last of the 3 Inca ruins on this part of the trail and 8,692 feet high! That's higher than the pass over Donner Summit which is about 7,000 feet high! While on the trail, we had gone through several micro climates including a rain forest which is why all the orchids were growing along parts of the trail. The picture on the left...the last set of stairs. that I was to "hurry up" and climb....and then crossing to the back side of the mountain, was the Gateway of the Sun which then leads down....yes! I did say 'down!' a path to Machu Picchu. It was getting dark and my guide and I were the last two on the trail. I drug myself up a few steps then rested, a few more...then rested....I did that until I reached the top. My body was really feeling the no fuel to run on. It was beginning to get dark, and I was trying to hurry! OMG, what if the bus didn't wait! We'd have to walk all the way back to the little town that we were to spend the night at. As I crossed over the last step to the other side of the mountain, there it was, Machu Picchu! The pictures on the right above are what it looks like from the top of Intipunku.

Part 5 - The Inca Trail Saga Continues

The pictures in the previous post. My guide kept taking pictures of me at various points...something I typically would never let happen...however...I wanted to have proof of the last point I was known to still be alive...so I agreed! In one of the pictures, my guide is pointing across the mountain....see the little clearing....waaaaayyyy over, near the top of the mountain? Well, that's the next destination! The Inca's used terracing for planting and living on the side of the mountains.

After reaching the top of the ruins, we went thru the hostel for hikers and there was a security check point station. They don't let anyone go alone past that point and your group has to remain together! Group? What group? Our other guide was waiting at the security check point so my guide and I could continue on. The trail was now flat and I was making time! Well, as good as quickly as a person can go with no fuel in their body and being dehydrated! I began to feel very weak. Eat something! What? I threw out everything! Oh, except the beef jerky...protein. I sat on a rock in the shade and opened the bag....I put a piece in my mouth and began to chew....and chew and spit it out! Hot! It was peppered! I was already hot and exhausted! A sip of water and another 2 hours. I found myself alone on the trail for about an hour and my mind began to wander..."You are all alone on a trail, in Peru, miles from anywhere! Right before I arrived in Peru, the mother of my daughter's, friend kept telling me all the 'bad' things that can happen. I explained to her, that I was going, and I didn't want to hear about any bad things that can happen while traveling in a foreign country. Nevertheless, my mind began to wander. Was my guide going to catch up with me? Was the security station where he was stopping? Does the trail have sub trails? Am I going to get lost? I brought myself back to the moment. I knew on a spiritual level that it was no accident that I had been left alone. I began to pray and listen and watch what was around me. Come to find out, my son was alone on the trail during the same time. More walking, my guide did show up...with the information; "We've got to hurry... we have to meet the bus at 5:30! Hurry??? What in the heck? I am hurrying...it looks like slow motion, granted...but nevertheless...I'm going as fast as I could!

Part 5 - The Inca Trail Saga Continues

Part 4 The Inca Trail

I still wondered how I was going to make it uphill to the first ruin, let alone climb the steps to the top of the ruin. Since my back pack was waiting for me at the rest place, I had to figure out something. I'd have to lighten my load. What in my back pack could I let go of? Was leaving things along side of the trail considered littering? Well, after another 10 minutes in the heat, it didn't matter, things had to go! What could I let go of? Well, the apples they gave us were the heaviest and I was sick to my stomach, (altitude and heat and as I look back dehydration) the apples, bananas, cookies and crackers all were left at the side of the trail. I said a prayer, that someone was going to come along and be really grateful to have them! More minutes, more rests, more sips of water....what else can I let go of? The sunscreen. We'd already put it on, it was a big heavy tube....bye, bye. A few more minutes, there's got to be more...Pati, can't you let go of the rest of the food you brought? Fine! But not the beef jerky! It was light and it was protein. Crackers, nuts, etc...left on the side of the trail. Well, certainly it's not raining, the poncho was the next to leave. Well, it worked, the back pack was lighter. More stops, resting in the shade of the bushes and more sips of water. (So far, I hadn't even gone through (1) 12 ounce bottle. More praying and I was at the first ruin. OMG, you want me to climb where? Counting 1,2,3...come on Pati, 10 steps and then you can rest! Then 10 more, and 10 more and Whew! I'm at the top. I'm sick....there's a camping hostel for a short potty break, another sip of water and keep on truckin'.

still uphill to our first ruin still more uphill to the second.

Part 3 THE INCA TRAIL

Bringing up the rear of the pack does have it's advantages, if you can let your ego go! I really had a personal tour guide and needing to stop every few minutes, I was able to see and experience the trail in a way that wouldn't have been possible, had I just been able to keep up with the pack. I reached the first official rest spot and guess what was waiting for me? Yep, my back pack! Crap! I was unable to eat or drink, just taking sips of water to wet my mouth at each rest. My guide showed me the first ruin we would be getting to (the picture on the right) and yes, those are stairs....all the way to the top! I can barely walk the trail, how in the heck am I going to climb those stairs?

Part 2 - The Inca Trail

Our guides told us that we will be hiking straight up hill for 2 hours! 2hours! Straight uphill, in the hottest part of the day, in a very high altitude, (translation, not much oxygen!), and carrying a backpack with snacks, water and supplies as we will be spending the night in a little town nearby. Now what part of this would appear hard? I live in Northern California and the trail reminded me of hiking the Yuba River during the summer. Thank God I had bought a hat and my son had bought me a shaman hiking stick in a little town before we arrived.

I quickly fell to the rear and God knew I would kill myself trying to 'save face' and keep up with the group, so a younger girl, ended up with me in the rear. I asked her, "Why did you decide to hike the Inca Trail?" "My husband and I hike all the time." She asked me why had I decided to come. "I still feel like I'm 19 years old in my head." "Well good for you," she said encouragingly. I found myself resting in all of the shade of the bushes along the side of the trail. My backpack felt extremely heavy! Our tour guide kept asking me if I was OK. "I think I should go back and take the train!" "No possible"...he says in spanish. He offered to carry my backpack for awhile. Typically, I would have refused, but I could see no other way of making it, without some kind of respite. So, now, it's just me and my water bottle!

WALKING, RATHER CRAWLING, THE INCA TRAIL IN PERU

The Inca Train...A Mystic Experience is the caption on the side of the rail cars, stops in the middle of the track at Kilometer 104. As the train comes to a halt, four people rise (my son and I being 2) and walk to the side door of the train, where we are instructed to 'Jump!' It wasn't that far to the ground, however for a 57 year old, out of shape and carrying a little extra body weight plus a backpack, it should have been a clue of the 6 hour journey that lie ahead.

My spanish speaking son and I jump down off of the train and we're greeted by one of our tour guides waiting for us next to a river. He instructs us to stand by the sign reading CAMINO SAGRADO CHACHABAMBA - WELCOME TO THE INCA TRAIL - Translation; SACRED WAY CHACHABAMBA. We are taken across the swinging bridge made of boards and rope to a place where we will wait for the rest of the people who will be joining our hiking group.

Like all things in my life, I said 'yes' to this incredible opportunity, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Everyone arrives and we're given some fried rice for lunch. The altitude is very high and I'm not very hungry, however, I'm not carrying it on the hike, so I ate some and left the rest. We were also given an apple, banana, crackers and cookies, which I put in my backpack because I had space to spare, not realizing I would have my son's snacks and we would be hiking separately!

Our tour guides announce that we are getting a late start and that we have to hurry along the trail and did anyone want to go back on the train. No takers! So, now it's noon, the hottest part of the day and we all begin a brisk start. Very quickly, I fall to the rear and I say to my son, "Go on without me....save yourself!"

(To be continued)

HORSES; PERSONAL POWER

In the Native American Spiritual Tradition, Horses represent power, personal power. Power, not in the sense of bulldozing power, but simply taking ownership of who I am and my talents and gifts.

When I arrived to my daughter's in Chicago, I noticed my apprehension around her 2 horses. This was a bit unusual for me as we had horses when the children were growing up. As I do with all situation in life, I began to look at this timidness towards her horses as a mirror for my life. What could this mean for me?

After much reflection, I could see that somewhere along the way, I have backed away from my own personal power. This funk I found myself in was somehow related to the fact that I didn't feel comfortable around the horses, I didn't feel comfortable around me. So I gave myself permission and the time for a pity party. The weather was cloudy and chilly which supported the inward journey, which looked like me lying on the couch nearly in a coma for over a week. Guess what! I rode a horse (with my daughter at the helm!) and I woke up....a new beginning! (Again!)

IN THE PURSUIT OF LIFE!

You may have wondered why I haven't been blogging. Well, I added another leg to my Year in a Suitcase journey and as has happened every single time that I make a change, I go into my normal panty twist. Well, they're getting shorter and less severe. (Good thing because they were getting so uncomfortable that I was beginning to feel like the only solution was to stop wearing them!

Nevertheless, this time, I'm here in Chicago. I went through a good week to 10 days of depression. Why am I here? How long will I be here? What am I to do here? I need a 'job!' It's difficult to get a job when you have no idea how long you'll be somewhere. Blah, Blah, Blah!

I constantly fight to stay in the moment and true to the commitment that I have made to myself, 'To live a year traveling and saying yes wherever the doors open up and not getting complacent, staying someplace, just because it's easy. So, I just wait, until the next opportunity arises and I say yes and move on! For me, It's about learning to trust and be at home with myself, wherever I am.

My daughter called and said she had found a poem on top of some papers of her Papa's. She said it brought tears to her eyes. I had given her a copy of a song by John Denver, one day while she had been visiting. It is called Looking for Space. Part of the chorus is; Sometimes I fly like an eagle, and sometimes I'm deep in despair.

I had taken my dad to see The Pursuit of Happyness and I asked him what he thought about it. He replied, It's just life! It is just life! It's hilly, it's roller coasters, it's up, it's down. It's not about waiting for the storms to pass, it's simply about, how well can you navigate through it! (The picture is of a Bald Eagle in a tree, in Wyoming)