13 – 14 km today, but I’m happy considering the late start and pretty hilly terrain. (This is nothing compared to when I get closer to Beijing, mind you)

I didn’t start walking until three in the afternoon. The Great Wall goes through a fairly hilly area here and steeper than before. I followed The Wall and was happy to see the first stones, so far, which were used for building the Great Wall! There was still rammed earth in the middle but in the steeper sections, they had used stones on each side to give better strength and longevity, I suspect. Some places where it was very steep, there was only a small stone wall remaining, but that is probably all they needed in these sections since the steepest places are difficult to get over in the first place.

It was fun to see something different along The Wall. A little later, The Wall entered a large open mine. They were mining what looked like iron ore in some areas, but the rocks were black in other places. I didn’t see any people where I was walking, but heard a mighty dynamite blast go off in another area. It was difficult to follow The Wall because I had to make several detours on the roads in the mine. The Wall was completely gone in some places.

Bjartman – Thanks for the comment yesterday! Congratulations with the baby!! I am deeply honoured that you have named her after me!! At least with two letters as you mentioned. I’ll go for three lettters next time 🙂

Dark clouds started rolling in from the west and I decided to set up the tent. Just before I got to a good camp site, I saw my first snake along the Great Wall. I stopped immediately and was happy to have the walking sticks between me and it. It wasn’t very big – about four and a half metres long, thicker than my thigh and had eyes bigger than tea saucers… Haha… Well – that’s what it felt like 🙂 It was tiny and it lay still, so I got some good shots of it. I wasn’t expecting to see snakes this far west on the Great Wall. Right now I am about 1.800 metres above sea level.

I’ve left the stove behing this time and stocked up with small dumplings with meat, corn on the cob, chocolates and peanuts. So I’m going to have myself a little feast in the tent now and wash it all down with Ice Tea. It has been hot and humid today, with pretty heavy clouds and wind. It has just started drizzling outside now. I’m sitting here in just my underpants because it is still warm now at 9 o’clock in the evening.