Scaling The Dragon's Back e-book is half price for a limited period. All proceeds go to Dementia UK, Admiral Nurses.

Front cover.

In September 2012 I walked part of the Great Wall of China for Dementia UK, Admiral Nurses.  I wrote my memories of the adventure in an e-book 'Scaling the Dragon's Back.'

In order to boost fundraising this festive season my book is on 50% sale (at £2.50 less than the cost of a high street cup of coffee).

All proceeds from books sold (after publisher fees) will be donated to continue my support of Dementia care.

The book is available from Amazon for Kindle, Barnes and Noble for Nook, on Kobo and for all other formats from www.theendlessbookcase.co.uk

In September 2012 I took part in a trek of part of the Great Wall of China.  Quite simply the experience changed my life.  Awe inspiring scenery, memorable moments and personal challenges.  I will admit at times I found it difficult even doubting I would be able to complete the trek.  I was driven on to prove something to myself and by not wanting to let down my chosen charity.  And frankly there was an occasion on one day of the trek when it was actually easier to continue on and up than to go back and down the Wall.  

To celebrate the wonder that it the Great Wall, capture my experiences not only of the trek but of seeing the Terracotta Warriors and the sights of Beijing.

The book has received four and five star reviews...

Angela J Shirley - I have never been to China and after reading this book know I need to add this adventure to my list of things to do before I die! Not only has this author taken the time to document her trek which was done to support a dementia charity - her example has inspired others to do the same. Dementia is something that is not talked about enough, and charities like the one that Karen supports needs all of us to be involved. This book is full of information and fascinating pictures - you will not be disappointed. Flipping through the pages made me feel I was right there with Karen. Thank you Karen for writing this book, it has helped me to think of ways I too can support the study of dementia. The price of this book is well below what it is really worth. I highly recommend this book for the world traveler and those of us who have a heart for charities.

The steepness of the Wall cannot be imagined

Rosie Keating, Community Fundraising Team, Dementia UK - Overall, I think it is a fantastic book – your anecdotes add humour and your historical references make for a both enjoyable and informative read.  The book offers plenty of advice to people who may be interested in taking part in the climb themselves. 


Hayley - I am loving this book -its inspiring me to want to go! Reading about your adventure is revealing so much about China too, and your writing is taking me right there! Anyone who has ever considered going must read this book first! 

A good read. It held my interest which made it an easy read. I enjoyed the moments of humour and at last I know what happened to the student who confronted the tank i Tianneman Square durint the student protest.
When the author recounts her days trekking on the Great Wall I felt as if I was there with her.

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Scaling The Dragon's Back

Dec 23, 2013 by Lizzy

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I visited China myself a few years ago, I relived the experience as the author described her visits to The Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Terracotta Warriors and the Great Wall.

I admire Karen's determination to finish the trek, I found walking the section of the Wall at Badaling onerous enough.

An interesting and informative read I can highly recommend this book.

- See more at: http://theendlessbookcase.com/ebooks/scaling-the-dragons-back/#sthash.E1hhW0ze.dpuf

A good read. It held my interest which made it an easy read. I enjoyed the moments of humour and at last I know what happened to the student who confronted the tank i Tianneman Square durint the student protest.
When the author recounts her days trekking on the Great Wall I felt as if I was there with her.

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Scaling The Dragon's Back

Dec 23, 2013 by Lizzy

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I visited China myself a few years ago, I relived the experience as the author described her visits to The Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Terracotta Warriors and the Great Wall.

I admire Karen's determination to finish the trek, I found walking the section of the Wall at Badaling onerous enough.

An interesting and informative read I can highly recommend this book.

- See more at: http://theendlessbookcase.com/ebooks/scaling-the-dragons-back/#sthash.E1hhW0ze.dpuf

A good read. It held my interest which made it an easy read. I enjoyed the moments of humour and at last I know what happened to the student who confronted the tank i Tianneman Square durint the student protest.
When the author recounts her days trekking on the Great Wall I felt as if I was there with her.

---

Scaling The Dragon's Back

Dec 23, 2013 by Lizzy

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I visited China myself a few years ago, I relived the experience as the author described her visits to The Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Terracotta Warriors and the Great Wall.

I admire Karen's determination to finish the trek, I found walking the section of the Wall at Badaling onerous enough.

An interesting and informative read I can highly recommend this book.

- See more at: http://theendlessbookcase.com/ebooks/scaling-the-dragons-back/#sthash.E1hhW0ze.dpuf

A good read. It held my interest which made it an easy read. I enjoyed the moments of humour and at last I know what happened to the student who confronted the tank i Tianneman Square durint the student protest.
When the author recounts her days trekking on the Great Wall I felt as if I was there with her.

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- See more at: http://theendlessbookcase.com/ebooks/scaling-the-dragons-back/#sthash.E1hhW0ze.dpuf

Dec 27, 2013 by Mike

A good read. It held my interest which made it an easy read. I enjoyed the moments of humour and at last I know what happened to the student who confronted the tank i Tianneman Square durint the student protest.
When the author recounts her days trekking on the Great Wall I felt as if I was there with her.

---

Scaling The Dragon's Back

Dec 23, 2013 by Lizzy

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I visited China myself a few years ago, I relived the experience as the author described her visits to The Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Terracotta Warriors and the Great Wall.

I admire Karen's determination to finish the trek, I found walking the section of the Wall at Badaling onerous enough.

An interesting and informative read I can highly recommend this boo

- See more at: http://theendlessbookcase.com/ebooks/scaling-the-dragons-back/#sthash.E1hhW0ze.dpuf

Cindy - I enjoyed reading your book very much.  It is well written, funny and also informative.  I admire you for your determination to do the Trek and also your commitment to the Admiral Nurses.

Nor the breathtaking views of and from the Wall.

Lizzy - I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I visited China on holiday a few years ago and relived my holiday experience when the author described her visits to The Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Terracotta Army and The Great Wall. I admire Karen's determination to finish the trek as I found a walk along the section of the Wall at Badaling onerous enough. I can certainly recommend this book.

A good read. It held my interest which made it an easy read. I enjoyed the moments of humour and at last I know what happened to the student who confronted the tank i Tianneman Square durint the student protest.
When the author recounts her days trekking on the Great Wall I felt as if I was there with her. - See more at: http://theendlessbookcase.com/ebooks/scaling-the-dragons-back/#sthash.Rvuj3EDh.dpuf

Mike - A good read. It held my interest which made it easy reading. I liked the moments of humour and at last now I know what happened to the student who confronted the tank in Tianneman Square during the student protest. When the author recounts her days trekking on the Great Wall I felt I could have been there with her. 

 

Pam and Paul - We thoroughly enjoyed Karen’s book. It takes us on her personal journey along the wall, we shared with her the blisters and aching limbs that her great effort brought. Whilst providing an insight to the rugged and in parts beautiful terrain it also introduced us to the ancient and modern history that has shaped the Chinese culture along with the socio-political challenges that it faces.

 

John - Enjoyed it, kept my interest.  Informative and very readable.  Well done you can be pleased with your first book. 

Jenny - I bought this book to read before I visit Beijing later this year when I hope to go visit The Great Wall from there. What a good read, this book is full of interesting information , and entertaining I think it is so much more than a travelogue. If you are even remotely interested in life in modern China, its culture and politics then you will really enjoy reading this book. If you are planning to visit China and The Great Wall then you would find it really useful to read this book before your vacation. I really enjoyed your book Karen.

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Visiting the Berlin Wall 25 years after it came down; 25 years ago today.

One of the few sections of the Berlin Wall which still stands

.

25 years ago today on 9^th November, my birthday, the Berlin Wall came down with this momentous event the iron curtain fell and the Cold War ended. Although the official demolition of the Wall didn't actually start until June 13th 1990.   Any visit to Berlin is not complete without viewing what is left of the Berlin Wall.  Most of the Wall has been dismantled, only a few small sections remain today at the original Berlin sites. One stretch is one of the world’s largest street art exhibits where I found it was very easy to spend several hours viewing the street art. Stone slabs mark where the Wall had stood right next to the Reichstag.  The fall of the Wall in 1989 and the disintegration of the GDR enabled German reunification after 44 years.  In a recent survey 75% of East Germans questioned said the fall of the Wall has improved their lives while only 50% of West Germans questioned feel that they have benefited from the reunification.   

The division of Berlin.

At the end of the second world Berlin as Germany was divided into four zones, each occupied by one of the countries that had fought and defeated the Nazis. The zones controlled by France, Great Britain and America controlled West Berlin; the Soviet Union controlled East Berlin.  It is said some 3 million East Germans, nearly one fifth of the population of the Soviet controlled German Democratic Republic,(GDR), escaped to West Germany from the end of WW2 and the erection of the Wall in 1961.  Mostly escaping via Berlin and causing a brain drain from the GDR. The Berlin Wall was built to prevent East Germans from entering West Germany.  On 13^th August 1961, that people on both sides of Berlin woke up to see the entire perimeter sealed off, with work to erect a more permanent divide in full flow.  The Wall was 155 km in length, contained 302 observation towers and was guarded by more than 11,000 soldiers. The Wall on the Western side was decorated by graffiti, on the Eastern side were plain grey concrete blocks.

My pick of the graffiti a Trabant breaks through the Wall heading West.

There was a large stretch known as the ‘Death Strip’, on the East Berlin side of the Wall, which varied in width consisting of floodlights, soldiers and dogs, and various other obstacles such as barbed wire and a bed of nails. Also frequently-raked sand strips helped identify if anyone had attempted to cross unnoticed.  People attempting to get from East to West were regarded as traitors with the guards were instructed to shoot if they attempted to cross, although not to kill them.

A moving graffiti art remembrance of those who lost their lives attempting their escape.

It is estimated 10,000 people tried to escape over the Wall, 5,000 are thought to have succeeded.  136 people died attempting to cross the Wall.  The first was Gunter Litfin, an apprentice tailor, who was shot trying to cross from East to West and the last crashing in a self-made balloon.

Checkpoint Charlie the best known checkpoint between the American and Russian zones has been reconstructed for the benefit of tourists to Berlin.  Small pieces of the Wall are available for sale as souvenirs all over Berlin. 

Concrete blocks outside the Reichstag building 

mark the Walls path.

 

In September 2012 Karen Patrick walked part of the Great Wall of China for Dementia Care.    

Her story is related in her book 'Scaling the Dragon's Back' which is available from Amazon for Kindle, Barnes and Noble for Nook, on Kobo and for all other formats from www.theendlessbookcase.co.uk

Karen's book is sold in support of Dementia Care.