So today was it. This was the day the trek was to begin for all four if us. After yesterday I knew what was coming. We arrived at our hotel in the Urubumba, and we gathered for a meeting. Julio was letting us know what was happening going forward. He then politely asked to speak with me. I appreciated that. But I wanted my teammates involved. I did not want them to think I had been dealt with unfairly. So I said lets talk here. Nothing you say will be off limits. I was given a couple of options. I wanted to be sure my decision did not impact the team negatively. We all paid to be here and accommodating me could sour the trip of the others. My words not Julio’s. In the end, since I knew how much impact even doing the one day would have, I decided I would walk to the checkpoint and get my passport stamped and say goodbye. It was hard seeing them go over the bridge and up the hill. We each hugged and when I hugged Maggie my eyes filled with tears as I gripped her. I felt I had let her down and as though I were abandoning her. I stood and watched as they crossed the river and climbed the hill our of sight. I was all alone. They were gone and I cried.

I turned to see Darwin our driver waiting for me. I huffed and puffed up the hill to the van. Darwin speaks no English. As we drove away I looked out the window. What beautiful country. I wanted to k ow more so started picking through my very limited Spanish and asked questions. Soon we were having quite the conversation. We spoke about dogs, family, work and sights along the way. He is a nice man and has a 5 year old boy who started first year of school. At one point I am not sure if I asked him to marry me. And he may think that Maggie’s husband is dead and that Maggie and I are married now. By the look on his face something big got lost in the translation!!

We arrived back to Cuzco and Julio was right at my door and we went into the hotel to hammer out details going forward. He had already gotten my train ticket to go up to Machu Picchu Thursday. Ingot a good hotel rate and we have archeological tours to do for the next two days. Julio is so passionate about his Inca heritage and it comes out in his knowledge as he explains things T the various locations we go. Once again, Mountain Madness is providing the best!

So by now Maggie is in her tent. She is sleeping out and I am Missing seeing her reaction to it all. But we each have three days of adventure to create before we meet again at Machu Picchu!