I have written two version of each item so if you are in a hurry read the short version.If you like detail skip the short version and read the long version further down.
Short Version:I awoke early to pray and send Simon C on his way to fill some gas cylinder. During the day the rest of the group went grocery shopping while I worked on my blogs and set up an internet connection via my mobile. In the evening we packed and organised the vehicles with the food and equipment we had. In the evening we had a nice supper of more pizza and I had a nice mango juice. I spent a rainy night in one of the MAPA tents as all the accommodation had been taken.
Long Version:After going to bed late I woke up early to make Fajr Salah (prayer before sunrise) and to wake up Simon C. He had to leave with a taxi at 6:30am to take our gas tanks for refilling at the one and only place in Nairobi. Afterwards I headed back to bed and finally walked out into the sunlight at about 9am.Grocery shopping had to be done for our trip but space was limited so I decided to stay behind. I was told that Taryn was chief whip when it came to organizing groceries and it certainly seemed like it when I saw how much they had bought: Eggs, spices, fruit juice, meat (halaal yay!), weetbix (yip they have it here), drinks, tins of all sorts, pasta, rice, etc... The only thing that we left for the road was the fruit and veg which we will be able to buy at the street vendors on the way.I spent the day being a geek; writing, editing and uploading my blog by connecting my phone to the Internet via 3g and then setting it up as a wireless point allowing me to connect the laptop to the Internet to; speeds are very good! I also did some MAPA work, familarising myself with procedure and setting up the required folder and file structures for our work.On their return from shopping and collecting the second vehicle (amongst other repairs all the tyres had to be replaced!) we all got busy with the packing of the vehicle. This required unpacking all of Taryn and Deons stuff out of the Landcruiser (which they had be using) and putting it aside. Then giving the interior and various drawers a quick clean (mostly Simon C..thanks!). Then I split the food stuff half & half. Simon C and I loaded our share and repacked the vehicle to make it it neater and more manageable. Both vehicles have a fridge so things like meat, cheese etc go inside there. A second battery ensures it can stay on at all times.Taryn and Deon proceeded to do the same with their vehicle and we all managed to get mostly done just after sunset at about 6:30pm. This was fortunate as Simon C and I had to still put up tents as there was no available accommodation. He had sneakily booked the best available camp spot so I had to make do with a patch the looked like the valley of a thousand hills. Fortunately my deluxe Thermarest ironed out the bumps nicely! Drizzling rain came in just as I was finishing erecting my tent.Afterwards we ordered supper with myself & Simon C having a vegetarian pizza, Taryn a vegetarian pizza with bacon ($$#?) and Deon abstaining. Drinks were a freshly squeezed mango juice (watered down) for me, a beer for Simon C and and a sprite for Taryn (diluted with some of Simon C's beer).Afterwards I watched a little TV, had a shower, prayed in the darkness and headed to bed.NB:A warning on Upperhill Backpackers: It is most unfortuante that they allow smoking in the restaurant/recreation area and whenever someone lit up I was forced outside. I still cant understand why people permit the harming and possible death of their fellow human beings. Another incident also saddened me. In August I had sent up a large Karrimor rucksack loaded with clothing and equipment to donate to the porters of Kilimanjaro. Due to miscommunication (that is another story in itself) the bag ended up not in Tanzania but in Nairobi at the Upperhill backpackers. Since it was equipment that I wanted to donate I asked them very nicely if they could waiver the holding fee (R5 a day) which I had in any case not agreed to. They were quite rude to me and gave me a lecture. Its sad that people who are so giving can be so hard.
draft
9/7/09
by Simon Orford
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