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Packing up getting ready to start
This was the field where the poters had been playing football until our arrival Day 1
A little surprising to both of us, Martin and I were up at 5:00, showered, breakfasted and packed ready to be collected from our hotel at 6:00. The six English visitors from our hotel were joined by three Americans from two different hotels. One of these required the minibus to go up such a narrow street that even at the turning area at the end there was barely anymore width than the length of the minibus, thus requiring a nine point turn.
The town was quiet at that time of the morning and we made rapid progress through the suburbs and over the hills on the same route as before to Ollantaytambo. The central square was full of bustle, minibuses manoeuvring and visitor from many countries mingling with locals.
We were pointed in the direction of a mini-market for last minute supplies and use of a toilet. The shop was like an Aladdin's cave with all manner of goodies you could buy for your trip, not just food and drink but also clothing and equipment. The toilet was serviceable - a sign of things to come. From there the minibus driver took us along a very narrow
unmade track paralleling both the river and the narrow gauge railway track.
Eventually we pulled into a grassy field where the porters were playing football. The night before we had been given duffle bags to contain what we wanted for the trail but didn't need in our day packs. We had strict instructions that the maximum weight limit was 7 kg. with the benefit of Barry's spring balance we established that was more than we thought and that 5.5 kg was sufficient for our purposes.
The porters, 12 of them including the chef and deputy chef, then proceeded to load their rucksacks with our duffle bags and all manner of equipment, including a large gas bottle. They carry a maximum of 20 kg which is strictly enforced at the start of the Trail when all their bags are weighed.
We walked along the dusty track and shortly crossed over the railway where we had a group photo in front of the sign marking the start of the trail. Then we went through a check point, where our passports were checked - the numbers using the trail are strictly limited to 500 a day, more than half of
this number being porters.
We then crossed over the river with its rapids and set off. The first day was relatively easy walking - the only issue was the temperature which was about 30C. We had regular stops along the way to drink water.
This part of the trail is inhabited and we were passed by farmers with horses and donkeys, children going to school and a modern football field. Little wooden shelters with benches afforded a bit of shade and women sold water and other drinks and a few souvenirs. The valley bottom was cultivated and we saw a farmer lifting potatoes - they grow 50 different varieties here.
We stopped at a small settlement for lunch. The porters had got everything ready for us including a dining tent. We had mushroom soup followed by chicken with vegetables.
On the way we looked at cacti and birds - including two different types of humming bird, a very small one and the largest in the world - the Giant Hummingbird (Patagona gigas), and Inca remains.
When we arrived at our first campsite, again located in a small village, again all was prepared for us with
bright yellow tents erected. These were a reasonable size and could have housed three people rather than two.
We watched the porters play football on the pitch marvelling at their energy before sitting down to another fine meal in our dining tent. As we ate the rain started with a thunderstorm. We quickly took ourselves to bed ready for the obligatory early start.
We slept on rather posh ground mats which absorbed most of the cold and hardness of the ground.
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