This morning I awake at 06:30 I wash(!) and make my way to breakfast.....I cannot stomach anymore porridge so I stick to Watermelon. Next up is the Tipping ceremony $100 each split between the crew plus any clothing donations (my klm pillow get chosen before David's (something about being less dribbled on!) after the ceremony Charles asks if I want to take the 3 hour walk or have a stretcher I opt for the 3 hour walk.
We start the walk together, all is happy days & upbeat lots of photos although my iPhone is still dead so the regular camera has them after an hours walk the guides ask me to spilt from the group as I will be going a different route. Dave & Simon are reluctant but I send them on their merry way. I trail down and down and down......after 3 hours I ask how long and my guide says......3 hours!!!! Aaaarrrrrggghhh!!!!!
This is RUBBISH!! I keep focused & trek. This was supposed to be 3 hours & car to the mountain gate where I should wait for the group to finish for a couple of hours.
Anyway where was I.....6.5 hours later I arrive at mandara huts. We stop and have lunch, well I say we I opened my lunchbox had the juice gave 1 guy my passion fruit another my bread roll cake and Damasen my choc. I ask where the car is.....only an hour away!!!!
So I get up and walk 80 minutes later I turn a corner and there is the most pleasant sight, a landrover!!!!!
We get in and drive for 15 minutes!!!!
When I arrive Marangu Gate I see David I ask him for $10 so I can tip the driver (& his mate!) I am ushered to reception to sign out bit what is this? Someone hands me an ice cold beer.....it has NEVER tasted so good!!!!! Thanks David Simon & Anna!!!
We load our stuff on the minibus I crash on the front seat and drift in & out of sleep in the 3 & a bit hours it takes to travel to the hotel.
We arrive!!!! Hurrah checking in is grab a key....mine is 39 basically all that's left.....the furthest away from the hotel! However I have a bath!!! (dirty pictures later!) then a shower and wash my hair 4 times I am starting to feel human again!!! I blog (see previous) and David & Stephan knock for me. We go to dinner receive our t-shirts and order food.
Starter for me is mushroom in sauce actually 1 mushroom. I order chips with my lamb as does Simon, and then David orders chips with his fish.....my lamb comes, not great. David takes about an hour to take all the bones out of his fish whilst eating the odd boiled potato, I happened to remark how tasty the chips were to Simon.... I won't blog the remark I got from David!!
So here we are drinking overpriced beer in a not so swanky hotel but it does not matter.
I owe Anna everything for her oxygen and I thank David and Simon from 3tc software for the opportunity to accompany them to Africa.
There will be a few updates with pictures over the next few days but for now there are a few thank you's!
Anna thank you for the oxygen I did that already
Ed you really are a star, a proper bloke and Karen this is a testament to how you have brought him up.
David Simon, you know
To the rest of you it's been a pleasure!
Russell Kew
Burbage Airport Taxis
07803 963194
www.burbageairporttaxis.com
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