We were woken up at 6:15, and had one last breakfast of porridge, toast, eggs, and the meat. Our only complaint was that breakfast never changed! Every day they would bring us 8 pieces of toast, and we would leave 8 pieces of toast, they just never caught on! Before heading out on our last hike, the porters and guides sang a traditional Swahili song for us. It was a great ending to our time together. Then Shabaz thanked us for being great clients, we also expressed our appreciation. There was no way we could have done the hike without them. They went above and beyond to make our climb a success. After that we were on our way by 7:30. Although it was very painful on the toes, and slippery and steep- the beautiful scenery of the rain forest really distracts you from all your pain. As happy as I was to be at the end of this adventure, there was also a part of me that was going to miss being here.
It's funny but we actually had the most conversation with our guides on the last two days, then we did the first six. It's much easier to talk going downhill at lower altitudes. It was great to hear about their lives and about how much they love and appreciate their jobs. Basil has been to the summit 115 times, and Shabaz over 200, fascinating! After walking a few hours in the rain forest we finally reached the gate. It felt like crossing the finish line after a long race. What a great feeling! We quickly signed out, and we're in our van (with the most comfortable cushioned seats) and on our way back to the hotel. Once we got there, we had to figure out the tips for our guides, porters, the cook and waiter. Then we had a little awards ceremony, where they gave us certificates for our great accomplishments! After that we said our goodbyes, what a journey, a trip I will never forget...but my shower couldn't come fast enough. |
| YAY, I did it! |
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