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Conquer Challenge Great Wall ( Long ) 3513.1km CHALLENGE PAUSED AFTER CALL FROM DOCTORS
TheEdge949
Member Posts: 5,687
Following some suggestions from both @Tikay10 and @lucy4 I have parted with £29.99 and signed up for the above challenge and over the next 100 days or so will be indoor cycling the 3513.1 km required to cross China.
Apparently, the organisers send me virtual postcards as I reach certain landmarks so if I can figure out how to copy them from my emails to these pages I'm hoping to put them up so you guys can track me.
The rules of the challenge allow for any activity to count towards the total distance so rowing, walking, running, swimming and skiing are all permitted. There is even a conversion chart to calculate stairmaster and stepper totals into km.
As I complete the challenge 5 trees will be planted in conjunction with The Eden Project and I receive a nice looking medal for my troubles.
This is not a fundraising exercise but merely a get fitter, lose weight and don't sit on the sofa eating donuts thing.
Should be fun, well maybe not but you know what I mean.
Mark
Apparently, the organisers send me virtual postcards as I reach certain landmarks so if I can figure out how to copy them from my emails to these pages I'm hoping to put them up so you guys can track me.
The rules of the challenge allow for any activity to count towards the total distance so rowing, walking, running, swimming and skiing are all permitted. There is even a conversion chart to calculate stairmaster and stepper totals into km.
As I complete the challenge 5 trees will be planted in conjunction with The Eden Project and I receive a nice looking medal for my troubles.
This is not a fundraising exercise but merely a get fitter, lose weight and don't sit on the sofa eating donuts thing.
Should be fun, well maybe not but you know what I mean.
Mark
Comments
Hi guys, first postcard, you'll notice the postmark is 11/02/22 as that's when I started.
Current distance covered is 81km.
Hope you're doing well.
Current distance is now 150 KM
Will update when the next postcard drops.
Mark.
A very unusual idea, but definitely a good thing.
GL Mark.
Hi all, got another 31km in just got back from the gym. I am currently 181km into the challenge with 105 days left so pretty much on course.
Earned another postcard with some relevant info. I think the next one is about 35km away so may take 2 sessions to get it.
Travelling through several unrestored sections of the Wall, I arrived at Baiyangyu Wall, translated as ‘White Sheep Valley’. The Wall here was split between east and west, with a village at the centre of it in a valley. The village occupied the banks of Baiyang River.
A unique feature of Baiyangyu was the one mile (1.6km) long section that was built out of marble. It is somewhat unusual since most of the wall was constructed from rammed earth covered in bricks or occasionally quarried granite. With the average height of the Wall at around 20-30ft (6-7m), the marble wall here was quite tall at 33ft (10m) and was also a reasonable width at 16ft (5m).
Coming from the east, just before I descended into the village, I entered what is now referred to as ‘Wild City’. It was a wall-enclosed open space with a solid gatehouse at the western end. There is no record of what it was used for, leaving me with unanswered questions. Fortresses and watchtowers were built on the Wall to house troops and store grains and weapons. This could have been one purpose but it is very big in size. Is it possible that it stationed a cavalry unit as there’s plenty of space for horses as well as soldiers?
Interestingly, when I exit through the gate, I end up on a trail because there’s no connection to the Wall, which is located northwest of the gate. Of course, that raises more questions, such as, how did they get to the gate? The Wall itself is considered to have an outer wall (facing the enemy) and inner wall (friendly side). The gate to this city was on the friendly side so perhaps access was through mountainous terrain, straight up from the valley floor. What do you think?
Left pondering, I descended into the village, crossed the river on a regular bridge and started up the westside on an unrestored, but in reasonably good shape, section of the Wall.
Til next time stay safe.
Mark.
That really is a clever idea.
Keep it up.
Got back from the gym at 1.30 this morning having put another 41Km on the clock with the current total at 221Km.
One thing I didn't realise was that the challenge allocates a pacer for you which is based on the length of the challenge divided by the number of days set for completion. I regged the challenge on the 10th Feb but didn't start my ride until the following day, however, the pacer started immediately and consequently I am now some 30Km behind it.
Two options spring to mind. Either chase it down or simply adjust the target time by a few weeks and suddenly I'm in front. I really should work in Formula 1 eh?.
The first big milestone will be at 702Km which is 20% of the challenge and also when The Eden Project will plant tree number 1. I think that means I will celebrate with a steak as I will have offset any carbon footprint from my carnivorous tendencies.
So please feel free to encourage, cajole, rail or even pelt me with virtual rotten fruit as I puff and pant my way across china in pursuit of better physical and mental health, a sense of achievement and a cheating little red flag that started when I wasn't ready.
Speak tomorrow, stay safe, much love
Mark
I love the deep end.
Here's the latest postcard with some facts about the section I've just completed.
Now this is an exciting portion of the Wall. Two different walls near each other named Xifengkou and Panjiakou are part of the Underwater Great Wall.
When they were first built, both sections were strong fortresses between the mountains. The construction of both walls took place in different centuries with Xifengkou built in the late 14th century and Panjiakou in the mid-16th century.
Built by General Xu Da, Xifengkou was a major gateway to access central China. It had three gates linked by stone walls. Surrounded by mountains on three sides and a lake on the fourth, Xifengkou was very difficult to attack, although it still saw many battles due to its proximity to the northern borders.
Panjiakou on the other hand was flanked by mountains and had Luanhe River running through it. This wall was built by General Qi Jiguang, another military leader who successfully reinforced many sections of the Great Wall.
What made these two interesting was that both of them had parts of their walls underwater. When Panjiakou Reservoir was filled, it submerged the town of Panjiakou under 160ft (50m) of water, along with parts of Panjiakou Pass and Xifengkou Pass. A small part of Panjiakou Pass that was on higher ground is still above water. It is said that during low water levels, some of the underwater walls become more clearly visible.
One endearing description likened the area to a giant dragon crawling along the winding wall towards the lake. Diving in, it later re-emerges on the opposite side, climbs up the ridges and lies down to rest on the lofty mountains.
Who knew eh ?
Stay safe, love to all.
Mark
Morning Mark.
"Underwater Great Wall" - as you say, "who knew?
I certainly did not, so I did a spot of googling & found it easily enough. But I also discovered there is an Underwater Great Wall and an Undersea Great Wall.
The first is exactly what you suggest.
The other?
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/china-building-undersea-great-wall-take-america-war-90601
What you do, don't tell Vespa, he has a rather overactive imagination & he'll be finger-wagging at Trudeau, Clinton or Gates.
+1