10 hours in my tent. I have to admit it didn’t come as a surprise, as it gets dark at 6:30pm and doesn’t get light again until 6:30am. So after dinner generally it’s off to snuggle up in your sleeping bag and wait for the sun to rise again. One of the signs of ageing is one’s bladder control is not as good as it used to be, so the thought of 10 hours in a tent sends shock waves through one’s bladder. But there is an answer, a ‘Pee Bottle’, everyone laughs but when it’s minus five outside the tent at 3am and I’m having a nice warm pee inside the tent and the others are fumbling about in the darkness looking for a tree to pee against… who’s laughing then!
At 6:30am I get up expecting Colin to be fast asleep. He has a deserved reputation for being the last to get ready. But he’s up had a cup of coffee and packed his bags, I’m speechless. After getting up thinking I’d have plenty of time, I have to rush my ablutions and hurriedly pack my bags as Colin’s tent is by this time being taken down and two porters are looking at me in discussed, hurrying me with their pointed stares to quickly finish packing. I just hope that Colin can’t keep this up!
Two very important people that as of yet I haven’t mentioned. The two guides, Imran and Francis. I’m pretty sure that’s not their real names, but ones they use for us pathetic Europeans, who are unable to pronounce their given names. These guys are the ones who are responsible for our complete wellbeing during our time on the mountain. Their aim is only to please us and answer to our every whim as long as we don’t walk off on our own or walk at a pace faster than they set! But you know what, their pace is perfect, it seems that years of experience on Kilimanjaro has proved them right, Pole Pole, (slowly slowly). Imran is the main man and setting aside all my flippant comments, he is an excellent guide and Francis makes sure we don’t stray from the straight and narrow.
Today was 7km, initially through rainforest and then moorland. It was a reasonably easy day with a height gain of about 1,000m but the total ascent was 1,200m, so only 200m of unnecessary height loss! We arrived at Shira 1 camp just before midday… in time for lunch, spag bol, makes a change from the usual sandwich. We are now at 3,650m, and all seems well with the acclimatisation, no headaches, a slight loss of appetite, but I know that’s usual for me. The afternoon was spent on irrelevant pastimes, snoozing, drinking tea and reading all whilst sat out in the heat of the African sunshine.
Kilimanjaro brushed away its veil of clouds in the late afternoon to perform one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve witnessed. But as the sun went down so the temperature plummeted rapidly along with it. Down jackets made an appearance for the first time and me, wishing I hadn’t still got on my shorts.
Dinner was served and a warm sleeping bag awaited. Only 10 hours until I see the outside of my tent again!
Remind me to tell you about the DUST.