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Up and on the road by 7:30am. Have had enough of Trudy the Terrible. Even last night Victor our tour leader commented to me that she was very talented. I asked at what to which he replied, non-stop talking and upsetting people. We left it at that. That was the last night I shared a tent with her.
The roads we travelled today were little more than wide red soil tracks and as it had rained a bit overnight, they closed the road we were going on and ended up on these dreadful roads. We call it the African Massage, as we bounce around hanging on for dear life for many kilometres. I reckon we have all greatly increased our core strength over these past days.
We stopped in Kibale town which Is small, but a thriving, bustling place. I ordered a cool tee shirt for $20 and picked a couple of screen prints for front and back. We pass through here again on our return from Rwanda so will pick it up then. A few more kilometres on and we stop for lunch in a community soccer field. Within seconds of us stopping we were surrounded by a dozen or more of the local kids. They wait for food, albeit they are not starving! We take no notice of them but they stick around, at a distance, after Victor shook his finger at them and playfully rushed at them with a switch from a tree, charging like a bull elephant. They all shrieked and laughed and ran to higher ground.
On the road again after lunch and stop momentarily where the equator crosses. Nothing very significant, just a cement circle on either side of the road, which marks the spot.
Journeying on the landscape turns into beautiful rolling hills, with all the crops grown on terraced land as there is limitless flat land to grow crops. The hills and valleys are lush and quite beautiful and again the lush green of crops, trees and bush is in stark contrast to the red earth.
I am remiss in forgetting to tell you that all housing is constructed in brick, with mud cementing them all in place and then also used as a thick render to protect against wind and weather. Many, many brick makers can be seen working hard collecting the red soil, making their bricks and then firing them in a makeshift kiln. Once out of the kiln they are left, covered with banana leaves until they read for use.
We arrive at our campsite around 3pm, which is in the grounds of a great resort on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi. It is the most beautiful place surrounded by hills with magnificent gardens and lawn. Flat lawned areas are for camping and I collect a new tent for myself and set to erecting it. I am pretty adept at this by now, and was I a happy little camper when I didn't have to put up with you-know-who sharing the tent.
A much needed shower (cold, as there was no electricity at the time) which was really refreshing and a nice long g & t. An idyllic place to chat over a couple of drinks, with Linley and Chris from Melbourne.
We all wish we could stay for an extra couple of days! It always happens with one-nighters, we drive in, set up camp, rush, rush, sleep, dismantle camp, rush, rush and don't really have time to drink in the amazing surroundings.
After dinner we went to the bar for a nightcap and I managed to hook up to wifi to check my mail. I was really excited to see all the emails scooting around from our Kilele Kelele Kilimanjaro team. Andrew had all our email addresses and after he and his Dad had finished their Tanzanian Safari he sent out a bulk email to everyone so we all had email addresses to contact everyone. It was so good to read what everyone had been up to this past two weeks and I spent a great half hour reading and responding to all the emails. Photo swapping will come next, once we all get our lives back to normal - whatever that is!
- comments
Cheryl Hey Mama, It all sounds great and I am wondering what you did with Trudy! Did you send her to the all night groupies, did you send her off on her own safari, did everyone gangup and do her in? The mind boggles! Are you all in single tents now? That must be such a relief from TTT (Trudy the Terrible), you will enjoy yourself much more without her constantly in your ear. Thanks Cheryl