My first visit to the Great Wall involved both pains and gains

I didn't sleep very well on the night of Oct 18.

I was anticipating my first visit to the Great Wall of China the following morning. My friend and I were set to make the 90-minute or so drive to the Mutianyu section of the wall, and I was filled with excitement, along with a twinge of nervousness, wondering if I would be able to endure what was sure to be quite a trek for us.

I think I managed to doze for a couple of hours before I woke up and I realized that I had overslept. I had to rush to meet my friend, who would be waiting for me with his car at Longze station.