Got up early today and started walking at 7.30. This time I hit the right track and soon I was climbing higher and higher. Nice fresh air and a blue sky due to high winds and rain from the north yesterday.

When I was here the last time, there were a lot of Chinese people celebrating the October festival, but now it was completely empty.

The leaves have turned into beautiful reds and yellows. The path I followed seemed to disappear now and again, but then reappeared. At one shady spot I saw a leaf covered in ice.

By the end of the ascent I was about 1200 metres above sea level. Then came the almost one kilometer descent. I walked a very nice dirt track and got lost once, as I was only following a general direction. Ended up in a tight spot where I had to climb down to get to a small river.

Then I followed the riverside. At one nice place I took off my shoes and bathed my feet in the very cold water. I had turned on the phone to check for messages and a few seconds later, my mother called. Thanks for the chat !

Got a blister on my right heel – probably because of the height difference more than the distance. This evening I was lucky to find a simple but great guesthouse. Have taken a shower and wanted to puncture the blister. It is placed in the worst possible place and I couldn’t really see where it was, so I’ll just have to see how it goes tomorrow.

Have brought the warm sleeping bag, so won’t be freezing for at least a month, I hope.

Today’s position should be right on the Great Wall. This valley seems to be very heavily defended with several free-standing watchtowers and a double wall. In both directions, The Wall goes straight up steep and high mountains that take over the role of the Great Wall of China.

29 kilometers today