Paradise in the middle of Africa!

We make it thru the first safari day! It was fun but again, not the mountain...
We arrive at Haven's Nature safari camp...we come to a gate. We enter into a paradise in the middle of A frica, the flowers, foliage, and most of all the people are amazingly kind and welcoming! Their names are Israel, and Ismael.
They have hand washing water waiting for us, snacks(more popcorn), with hot tea, or cocoa.
Then they let us know out "tent" is about ready...had no idea what to expect?! Wow was I ever surprised and SO thankful!
It is absoluteyl beautiful, and romantic:) We take the tour of the tent, it is so clean, and the bathroom is even more than in the town of Moshi! I know I'm obsessed with bathrooms...:)
The view is outstanding and almost brings tears to my eyes. We find out we are staying for 2 nights!
They ley us know we have time for a rest, and then dinner...we'll see if my stomach is ready?
It's not...so Kristi enjoys dinner and I enjoy a quiet evening in the tent! The birds, and animals are fun and soothing to listen too!
I get to also enjoy a "hot" shower first one in africa!

The journey continues one step at a time From the top!!

Marcy

Safari new experience!

Good Morning!!

I have been SO encouraged by all of your comments to my blog and trip...you don't realize the connection we all have!
Kristi and I rested, did laundry and read for the rest of the day....Up Saturday morn early and our Safari guide Frank picked us up at 8:30.( by laundry I mean we hand washed, and put our clothes in the sun)
I did great the whole time on the mountain, but I think the water has finally gotten to me...:( I try some taost and tea, we'll see?
We head out for some shopping in Arusha, a larger city about 40 miles away. The ride was again scarier than I can discribe...but we make it! We get to a large grocery store so we can get some snacks, for me the only thing that sounded good was Coke:)
We also had to look for batteries for Kristi's camera, it was a job in it's self..
Went to a hiking store to get Andrew a new backback, we thought it would be easier than tryin to mail from home...we were right!
Finally on the road to Lake Maynara. We stop at a tourist attraction, I always have to buy my grad daughter Callae some jewelery from every country..so she got a silver elephant bracelet!
Still not feelin good so no lunch for me:( it is nothing like the mountain, very hot and humid down here...
As soon as we reach Maynara, our first animal is a baboon, and family:) Basically on a safari you just ride around in an open top jeep and look for animals.
More animals and some beautiful scenery. We saw giraffe, Zebra,Elepants, Impala, again fun to experience but a bit anticlimatic:-)
Boxed lunches are served, still not eating so we give what we don't eat to the local children, loved that part!

After a full day driving we head to a safari tent lodge where we will stay for two nights...
The story continues one step at a time From the Top!!
Marcy

Shower day!!

Good Morning!

We make it to the cottage! I remember my forst thought of this romm 7 days ago...NOW I love it.
Can hardly wait to fel the water pour oer me! We even get to sit down in there:)!

The shower is not the best, and hot water goes quickly,but it has never felt better than to shave my legs! Sorry for ALL the detail but it was so true:)
Haven't had make up on in over a week, still can't do our hair but I at least can put on mascara!! Exciting!
Andrew comes to pick us up at 12:00, he actually stares at both of us....We can clean up!
We head to the Bryson office...I'm so excited I can hardly type...It feels so good to know my family and friends will get an update in a few minutes, we can't get anything back but just the connection feels great.
I actually get teary writing, I have said this before, and I thought of everyone, but I really needed to hear from Michael! He is and always will be my baby boy, and I missed him SO much! I want him to be proud of his Mom! We were limited on time, so I emailed a few and asked them to spread the word...I SUMMITED!! You all must be getting tired of hearing that, but it was, and IS so amazing to me, that I accomplished it!
Andrew takes us back to Bristol...I think what is so fascinating about life is you have people walk into your life that really impact you, and they walk out, and that is it? How can 10 African men change my life....
First I SEE my life, I am SO very Blessed. Yes there are wants, but really I have an abundance!!
Accomplishing a long awaited goal is...you actually go thru a kind of withdrawal?? More on that later.

We go enjoy a Margherita Pizza, and my Kilimanjaro beer...!!

The story continues one step at a time From the Top!!

Marcy

Last day on the Mountain!

Good Morning everyone!

Up at 5:45 Headed to Mweka gate to sign out today! 5.6 miles to go...
Our last breakfast, porage, pancakes, omlets....I really can not eat one bite:( I'm ready for a piece of toast!
The crew sings to us, I loved this part. After 7 days we have a connection...I will miss them!
On the trail by 8:30, very muddy and slippery trail this morning.
Both of us feeling pretty good.
We gather up what we don'y want to take home, get tips for crew together...I WISH I had more to give!
Care packages will be on there way to Africa:)
We head out, I FINALLY get to break away and hike at my pace...Ilove it! Faustin hikes with me, and it is a Joy getting to know him!
It's a beautiful day, and again mixed emotions. That Hot showers is going to feel good, though!
Arrive at Mweka gate at 10:45, we all sign out at the ranger station...Andrew gets my certicicate!
We are bombarded by African men selling all kinds of trinkets...It's so hard to say NO to them.
We go for another "van" ride with 11 men:) Remember 12 of us have not showered in 7 days, sorry for the graphics!
Make it to Bristol cottages at 11:28...Time for Good Byes...My heart is breaking. I make them get out of the van for hugs! God brings people into and out of your lives for a reason!

We are so anxious to communicate with our families...so Andrew gives us an hour to clean up and will be back to take us to the office to email...

The story continues on step at a time From the top!!
Marcy

Mweka camp

We make it to Upper Mweka camp, and I think I'm there....But we just keep going. I hate to be that person who says when are we going to get!! But at this point I'm beyond tired!
I know Kristi is not well either so we are a pair:)
I try to enjoy whats around me, and think about the Summit. Just to pass the time....Andrew keeps wanting to stop and take a rest, but I just want to GO, and get to camp!
We encounter some german hikers that are very rude towards our guys, It really set me off, so thats probably what got me the last mile or so:)

We FINALLY make Mweka camp, it's rainy and muddy, I'm so glad we have had dry great weather our whole trip. We sign in to the ranger station...guess who is right in front of us, yes the german men....I held my tongue:)
We find our camp, and I finally get to do some cleaan up. I don't think I have ever been so dirty, and sweaty! We are almost out of wet wipes....
It felt amazing to take my boots off! We head for the Out house, oh my I keep saying each is bad, but again this one is aweful!! We decide to find tree's again:)

The guys want us to to stay up and visit....we weren't very sociable. Our dinner was soup, panckes, and rice with a  stew....I just can't bring myself to eat it at all! I'm not sure I'll ever be able to eat one of their pancakes again??

Our health check is good, but both of us are empty, so off to our homesweet tent!


The story continues one step at a time From the top!!
Marcy

Heade to Mweka Camp

Good Morning!

After a LITTLE time resting in the tent, packing and just cleaning up...I was so sweaty, and dirty by now, remember it's been 6 days of no shower! I'm thinking of a HOT shower tomorrow about this time!!
It's still so surreal that I have summited!
The sun is out and wind is down a bit but we get our last looks at Barafu camp. As we leave camp we see a skydiver leave the summit...I did a little research and apparently there were about 70 gliding pilots on the summit...only one made a flight and most of the rest had to be recued they stayed on top to long...thats why the resuers were so busy!
Justo got a photo, again disappointed in myself for not getting the camera out, but a bit empty right now;)
We have about 5 to 6 hours of hiking...
The clouds roll off the mountain and now it really cold again, so we bundle up for the decsent... it;s dry, rubble, and we are not so sure footed, so it is a slow go...POLE-POLE!
Faustin had tried to feed me before we left camp but just coul'nt bring myself to eat the food...He was so excited he made a pasta dish.....with several day old mayo, heated it up and put shredded carrots on it....oh my stomach can hardly write about it now. I smiled big and took about 2 bites, my throat just closed up!!
I didn't want to be rude, just could'nt do it!

Several hours in...we have lost the cool mountain air, starting to get hot and humid...
The story contiues one step at a time From the top!!
Marcy

Base camp

After my Slide down the mountain...... We reach upper base camp, reality sets in that this is not just any old mountain to climb! As we approach the camp there are a hand full of rescue people, and a body wrapped up waiting to be evacuated....Andrew inquires about what is hapening. We don't know if it is the man we saw at Stella point, but the rescue people let us know, he died at Stella point. My first thought is of his family, and second thought of his hiking crew...they let us know it is a very busy day for resues, on the mountain today? It brings my minds eye back to so many people I just saw several hours ago struggling to make the summit!
Andrew shares with me the difficulties of being a guide, people pay to summit and don't want to be turned around, but if the guide feels you are not doing well they NEED to get you off the mountain. It makes the reality of life and the climb so real for me. I am so Thankful and Grateful that I was able to complete this hike! I quietly pray for the resuers, guides, and the family as we walk away....Life is fragile.

We begin the climb down the "Wall" that scared me SO much 8 hours before....I know I'm a chicken when it comes to climbing but I'm still amazed I did it! It's a good thing it was dark on the way up:) Many people are being helped down...again Thankfulness washes over me! I can do this!

We make it into camp, I'm SO excited but also anxious to see how Kristi is doing...The crew meets us, and hugs all around! Niko brings out a silver tray, and silver cups! A big bottle of Coke!! my first thought is how did they know it's my favorite...but then I learn this is what you celebrate with to get alot of sugar back in your system! It is ice cold, and tastes GREAT! We toast to our success, and celebrate the victory!! My biggest regret at this point looking back is...no one took pictures of the Victory:( I was so busy talking, drinking Coke that we did not get my camera out... So I hope you can SEE the pictures in your mind from my words!

Then Andrew fills me in on the rest of the day....As I'm reveling in my success, he lets me know I have 11/2 hours to rest...pack and we will be on the trail to Mweka camp, really!?! I was so focused on the Summit goal I guess I didn't pay much attention to the day 5 itinerary:)
Let me share..when you have a summit in site you have alot of excitment and adrenaline flowing, but on the decsent it begins to fade...knowing I have about 7 more miles to hike, down didn't excite me:)

The story continues one step at a time from the Top!

Marcy