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Hello everyone from the exhausted duo.
And as for the sore feet! Courtney is shuffling like a 90 yr old.
Well, I didn't get to the summit, abandoning the climb once I got to the crater rim 100 metres below the summit which was still nearly a 2 hr walk along the rim. I was just so tired after climbing since midnight and wanted to go to bed!! And it was so cold!! Way below zero. You can read about the cold while sitting at home but until in it you just don't realise how debilitating it is.
Courtney kept going and made it which is wonderful and I am so proud and happy. Unfortunately the guide stuffed up the photos on the iPod so no photo to put on the blog, so this photo is back at the lodge.
It took 5 days to walk up to the top camp site, most days quite warm but freezing overnight in our minute tent. And we had to drink 3-5 litres a day to help prevent altitude sickness ( which we didn't get) so we had 2-4 night runs to the toilet tent which we paid big bucks to hire. We had to put more clothes on, get into our boots, unzip 2 stiff frozen zips, then fall into the loo tent! So of course we started to restrict our fluids!
The food was wonderful, cooked in a little tent with a gas stove- chips, soup, stews, popcorn, French toast , porridge.
The hygiene was probably dodgy but we had no tummy hassles..
Their were oodles of people climbing, and with 3-5 porters per client the camp sites were mini villages each night..
We are back in Arusha now, flying to Nairobi in the afternoon, and start a 4 day safari of the Masai Mara Nat Park in Kenya tomorrow, then fly to Rwanda to trek to the Gorillas. If we can walk by then!
It isn't as warm as I expected, tho we are both sunburnt on our faces and hands( from holding the trekking poles )
Other than in the hotel there isn't a European to be seen here.
The countryside is spotlessly clean which is unusual in a 3 rd world country.
Services to tourists cost much more than I expected- laundry services, taxis, beer!! Think there is some ( much) exploitation of tourists.
Ok, time to pack.
I hope all is well.
Remember you can text me on the travelsim.
Carol and Courtney.
- comments
Deb Hopkins for two people who love the warmth, well done...Go Courtney for getting to the top, but Carol what an achievement considering your s***ty knees :) Glad you are not having tummy issues, that wouldn't be good so far away from anything....keep safe Love Debz