Quit Smoking

This is such a disgusting picture but they say "a picture is worth a 1000 words"!!! That's what this picture is to me, a 1000 words.

I decided quite a while ago that I wanted to quit smoking. I did quit previously for 7 months but rather stupidly started again.

Now, what with the thought of trekking the Grand Canyon for miles and miles, the kids hating the fact that I smoke (I don't smoke in car or house) and the monetary value in not smoking, I have decided that New Year is the time.

I have gradually cut down and today have only smoked 2 ciggies - it is now 8.30 pm so I am well chuffed with myself.

I will save around £25 per week from not smoking and have decided that I will donate £10 per week to the Girly Girls Grand Canyon Fund Raising Trek. It will for me, help keep me motivated, improve my fitness and stop me from shouting on the trek "stop whilst I have a fag............"!! Not a really appropriate statement is it. So all change for New Year, no smoking, exercising, fundraising and generally getting my life into some reasonable sort of order.

Roll on 2011 - that is what I say!!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Chezzy and I would just like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2011, it is gonna be one crazy, fantastic, amazing year!!!

ITINERARY

DAY 1

We depart from UK to Phoenix. When we arrive we are met by local guides and taken to hotel. A quick briefing follows regarding the first trek then we are free for the rest of the evening - ie hit the sack or have our last drop of alcohol - perhaps hit the sack would be more sensible!

DAY 2

We leave Phoenix at 8 a.m. and go north through the Seonoran Desert and into the high elevation plateaus and red-rock canyons of north central Arizona.

After a drive of approximately 2 hours we arrive in Sedona featuring the wonder of what Native Americans consider the spiritual vortex of the Southwest with its red rock formations - Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon rival many national parks.

We embark on a late morning acclimatisation trek of approximately 10k along Oak Creak, home to world class views of famous rock monoliths such as Cathedral Rock. We have a picnic lunch near the creek then we transfer through the breathtaking Oak Creek Canyon and its towering red-rock walls. We then check into our hotel for the night on ROUTE 66 - where Chezzy and I will get our kicks ;o)

DAY 3

Very early breakfast and then 1 hour transfer to Hualapai Hilltop (pronounced Walapai). This is the only land travel access to the stunning Havasupai Indian Reservation.

Starting at 5,400 feet, this demanding trail begins with switchbacks until it reaches a dry stream bed where the train begins to level out. After a trailside lunch, we then descend deeper into the labyrinth of red sandstone. At 3,200 ft we continue on the cottonwood-lined paths through the Indian village into the canyon's back country. A further 2 mile trek after the village will lead us past the awesome Havasu Falls and into camp. Late afternoon will be spent near the waterfalls setting up camp - home for the next three nights - and I am sharing a tent with a "BUNNY"!!!!!

DAY 4

THE EXTREMELY TOUGH DAY!!!!!

Have brekkie at camp then trek deeper into the Canyon to the testing descent at Mooney Falls. Our trek today will be around 9 hours!!!!

We continue into the stunning abyss until we reach a fork where we will be asked to choose a "wet route" or "dry route" (Chezzy has already chosen the wet route). The wet route involves swimming and jumping from waterfalls - hmmmmmmmmmmmm wonder if anyone else is taking the 'dry route' I may leave Chezzy as this point and go that way - nah kidding, I am into jumping from waterfalls!!!!! When we reach Beaver Falls we trek a further 9km to the Colorado River. Here at the confluence of Havasu Creek and the Colorado River we are standing one mile below the RIM OF THE CANYON!!!!!!! We still have to trek 12km back to camp though!!!!

DAY 5

Brekkie again at camp (the pancakes sound delicious btw) we trek up a canyon to a hidden side cleft in the cliff wall where we will be expertly guided to the Tonto Platform - this is a broad rocky terrace between the Supai sandstone and the red wall stand stone. This is a huge challenge but we are rewarded with views than can never be seen below - sweeping Grand Canyon vistas all the way to the North Rim and a bird's eye view of both Havasu and Mooney Falls - then it is back to camp for lunch - great bet we are 'starving' by then!!!!

Day 5 is NOT finished though - once we have digested lunch we trek and hike up to Carbonate Canyon which is a very narrow side canyon and we have to wear head torches to explore YIKES!!! After that, we trek back to camp and prepare ourselves for the big challenge.

DAY 6 CONQUER THE CANYON

We start at 5 am and have to be out of the canyon before the midday sun hits. We shall battle against intense heat and exhaustion but the exhilaration of reaching the Rim makes the arduous and challenging day one that neither Chezzy nor I will forget.

We shall then be transferred to Las Vegas and have a presentation dinner.

DAY 7

Brekkie in hote and transport back to airport to return home BOO HOO !!!

DAY 8

We are back in the UK ready to post fantastic photographs of our fantastic journey.

We hope that you can see from this itinerary just how much work we shall put into earning the donations that you give us to ensure that Marie Curie Cancer Care is funded into the future. Thank you all for giving Chezzy and I really appreciate it.

The "Grand" or should I say "Mad" Plan

It all began approximately two weeks ago now when my "undiagnosed" bi-polar, crazy, mental mate (she knows I love her really) came up with this hair brain scheme that she wanted to trek the Grand Canyon and raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care. To paint the picture, Chezzy (as she is known to me) gets ideas in her head and who does she turn to, me, the actual diagnosed Bipolar, crazy, mental chick who becomes completely wrapped up in exciting ideas. I think with this blog it is time that I "came out". I am Bi Polar, I was recently given my diagnosis but it does not stop me from trying to do "good" in my life. In fact, my Bi Polar has pushed me to extremes that I would never have expected. Accordingly, I see my "label" as a very good thing especially considering that the Grand Canyon trek is such a very good idea. Thankfully my CPN said "it is the best idea you have had in a long time Suzy.............."!!! To which I replied - "not my idea Gary, Chezzy's, I just went with the flow"! He laughed but he laughed a good laugh!!!

After the initial "how good at fundraising are you...................." from Chezzy, it took about 1 hour for me to contact businessmen that I knew and had very quick responses to which I started thinking "we can really do this"! So from then on it was all systems go. Manic telephone calls to Marie Curie to make sure spaces were still left on the trip, downloading registration forms, photocopying passports, having passport pictures taken to attach to forms and having medicals signed off by our doctors. I'll tell you, us girly girls sure move fast and today, 23 December 2010, we finally registered at the offices of Marie Curie in Edinburgh. The deed was done. We were now committed to the cause and the training ahead.

Let me tell you the itinary we first read sounded great and very doable. Today we received further details which include 'helpful hints and tips for etiquette for using composting toilets in base camp', I kid you not!!! Also more serious and interesting facts that the Havasupai Indians believe that if you take a photograph of them, you can take their spirit!!! Reading the further information we were given today made us realise that this is gonna be one heck of a challenge but something that we will remember for the rest of our lives whilst giving something to a very worthy charity, Marie Curie Cancer Care.

In our very first day posting our Just Giving Page on line, we have so far raised £50 from our wonderful friends who believe in us also. Yes, we have a long way to go - £6,000 but we will do it. We have all sorts of fund raising ideas which will get going in the New Year and we will keep everyone (who is interested) up to date with various events throughout the days, months etcetera ahead.

We hope you enjoy reading our blog as much as we enjoy writing it. Just to let you know it is Suzy writing at present but Chezzy will join in. Enjoy reading whilst we enjoy training !!! Grand Canyon here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh and a little teaser - up top is the "bunny" suit Chezzy is taking to wear whilst sleeping in the Canyon. I dread to think what beastie may decide she looks good enough to eat and oh my gosh I am sleeping beside her YIKES !!!!