I knew I would enjoy my time with Zaza and Vicky, but even I underestimated how much we all needed to be here, just walking, and how much we’ve taken away from it. There has been a barrage of emotions, a tidal wave of thoughts and discoveries, that have left us exposed and raw, and they’ve also made us feel closer than ever. Maybe we’re all meant to unravel every so often to take stock of where life has taken us and try to rebuild. If so, I want to go on as many of these adventures, and take as many people with me, as possible.

Despite the ground at our feet being unsteady and unpredictable, thanks to the small rocks that roll around underfoot with every step, the chatter bubbles away between us all for hours. There doesn’t seem to be a single moment when someone isn’t regaling us with a story, laughter isn’t spilling out of us, or a song – usually a cheesy number from the noughties – isn’t being sung out loud. We’ve earned the giddy euphoria that has descended upon us, and that feels so good.

Hours later we hit a road, an actual tarmacked road, and it feels like we haven’t seen one in years. We skip along it, using up the remainder of our energy on the discovery.

‘See that bus up there?’ Scott asks, a playful glint in his eye as he points a few hundred metres up the road.

‘The one that looks like it’s waiting for the England team?’ Zaza quips, pointing out the fact that the plush-looking bus does not fit in with its surroundings.

‘That’s the one,’ Scott nods. ‘Let’s get on it.’

‘What?’ asks Vicky. ‘Have you seen my boots? I’m a dirty mess.’

‘You’re filthy,’ agrees Scott. ‘But we’ll let you on.’

‘Are you kidding?’ I ask.

‘Mate,’ says Scott, his arm on my shoulder. ‘I wouldn’t joke about taking the load off your feet.’

‘So this is it? The end of the Lares Trek?’ I ask for clarity, feeling like it’s come so suddenly, just with a turn on to a road.

He nods in reply.

I take a moment to look back at where we’ve travelled from before grabbing Zaza and Vicky, literally grabbing them and hugging them close – a mixture of sadness, relief and happiness washing over me. For all my travelling days this has been the trip that’s punched through the most, and I’m so grateful to have had these two with me.

‘You’re really squishing me,’ bemoans Zaza.

I squeeze them tighter, making them laugh.

‘I love you both,’ says Vicky, before tilting her head back and shouting to the sky. ‘We love you, Pia!’

We all join in.

‘Race time!’ calls Kevin, sprinting off towards the bus.

‘Come on, you lot,’ says Scott, gesturing for us to follow.