Our Great Wall adventure

We began our journey out to the wall with a buffet breakfast at our hotel in Beijing, where we all wished Jess a happy 16th birthday. A donut stack with candles was waiting for her and she polished it off with aplomb.

Then it was onto the bus for the two and a half hr drive out to Simitai. We checked into our hotel, had lunch and then prepared ourselves for our walk up the very steep mountainous part of the wall that we could see from our lodgings. Even the walk to get on the wall is quite a climb and we were peeling off the layers at an early stage.

Yes, it was very steep and quite an effort. The girls handled it really well, especially Casey who had been suffering the previous day. We walked uphill for near on two hours to the point of the wall where you can go no further due to disrepair. Coming down took about an hour - it's quite difficult on the descent due to some of the very steep inclines. Casey was awarded a special medal on completion for her valiant effort. We all collapsed for an hour or so and then had dinner. A surprise awaited Jess; a lavish birthday cake organised through our trusty guide, Olive. She was thrilled. Even better was the after party in one of the rooms. The girls kindly asked us to attend and we shook up the dance floor!! (sort of, in an older woman kind of way). It was lovely of them to include us in the festivities. Jess had a birthday worthy of rememberance.

Catherine and I awoke to the sound of knocking on our door and news that Hattie and Ella had fallen foul of the dreaded lergy. They weren't up to the hike so I stayed back and Catherine and Olive took the girls to Jinshanglang where they began the hike back to Simitai. I'd told everybody that I had found that an easier hike last year but my recollection must have been awry. They all came back saying it was much harder.

We weren't happy with the girls staying at Simitai while there was illness in the group so we arranged to return to Beijing and the hotel we have been staying at. The girls were very happy about that, particularly in light of the wonderful buffet breakfast they know will be on offer tomorrow morning. Hattie and Ella are on the road to recovery and we are hoping no-one else succumbs.

Tomorrow we spend the morning at the Summer Palace and then we hit the Silk Market in the afternoon. THAT is causing considerable excitement to say the least!

Nearly at the end of our journey through China. Your girls are all looking forward to the return journey home and being reunited with family and friends.