I’ve just watched on Youtube a number  of videos on the ascent of Kilimanjaro. It brought back to mind a previous blog I wrote in Muscat, on my way to Mera Peak in the Himalaya. I was reading an article in a walking magazine which started with –‘What we are encouraging you to do here is to leave your comfort zone behind, move beyond the boundaries of your known experience and challenge yourself in a field where you are less sure of yourself, of what you are capable of and of how you will cope’ – I said at the time, ‘balderdash’ and I very much stand by that comment. Many of the videos contained the same or similar sentiment, sometimes religious and self-centered. I find it strange that so many people believe that climbing a mountain, or for that matter, take on any challenge and you will find the answer to ‘Life the Universe and Everything’ and those of you that are of a similar age to myself, know that the answer is ’42’! So why bother looking for an answer that already exists. To climb Kilimanjaro or any mountain has to be because you enjoy walking, to marvel at the scenery, to enjoy either the solitude or the company, but most of all you have to do it for yourself. By all means raise money for charity or pray for guidance if that is your bent, but if you do it only for those reasons, I believe the experience will totally pass you by.

What can compete with that view?

Booked… for 25th August – 4th September, I will be in Tanzania climbing Kilimanjaro with a man, who I have now done a couple of treks with since we first met in 2007 on my first jaunt to the Annapurna Sanctuary in the Himalaya. We kept in touch after the trek and four years later he came with Matthew and me on a magical climb to conquer Island Peak. A month before the trek to Island Peak he moved to Singapore, which I know was a little sooner than he initially anticipated and even now I struggle to understand how hard it must have been to up root your family to the other side of the world and then a month later leave for four weeks, to honour a commitment given a year earlier. It’s now been another six years since the Island Peak trip, in that time we’ve emailed occasionally, messaged each other on Carolynn’s Facebook and made the odd phone call and tried to meet up when he’s returned to the UK for a visit.

All I did was mention Kilimanjaro to him about three weeks ago, and within a couple of weeks he had agreed to come and booked his flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport. I’m very much looking forward to walking with Colin again, taking the micky out of Matthew and his kettle and Stephen and his hats!

Colin Zee

Started training, unfortunately my long time companion, Uncle Les has stopped walking and has been concentrating on his cycling. I’ll very much miss our chats, The world will be a poorer place without the Saunby, Masters rants! He did, however, pass his mantle over to Mike Brinkworth, who, as you already know came with me to Greenland last year.

Sunrays

We still head for Snowdonia as first choice for our days out, but I do have to admit that the early starts are hard work, but once up and on our way, it’s all worthwhile. I have become a fair weather walker and we pick our days according to the weather forecast, Mike and I are very fortunate, in that he’s retired and I pretend I am. So, the days are generally good weather wise and the walking delightful. Probably doesn’t prepare me properly for Kilimanjaro, but hopefully I know what to expect.

Snowdonia – Bera Mawr and Dramatic Skys

As a small aside Carolynn and I are starting a walk, a walk of some magnitude, very unlike me I know. Even more surprising is that I’ve persuaded Carolynn to come. The South West Coastal Path (1014km) the longest trail in the UK. I hope Carolynn isn’t expecting to finish the walk in the three days that we will be there next week, as I’ve allowed 2 to 3 years! There is another couple that are going to come with us, Andrew and Caroline. Andrew is a friend from school and our past experience of long distance footpaths does not bode well for either of us to complete this one… but I know we’ll enjoy trying, which is all that matters.

Enough waffle for now.