Dear Family and Friends:
Well, we’re off almost. The kids are probably on an airplane about now and on the way but won’t arrive until tomorrow night. It should be an exciting time. So the schedule will be as follows:
Leave for Nairobi tomorrow. Will go to Stake conference and do some last minute errands to get the last few items we need. Went to the duca kubwa (big store) today and all they had was toothpaste. Not much of a selection here in Magadi.
On Monday we travel to Arusha, Tanzania and spend the night there. Arusha is a tourist town near Kilimanjaro. When I first arrived in January, people wondered if I should attend church here. As the crow flies, it’s not far from here but it’s a long way by car. Nairobi is a lot closer than Arusha.
On Tuesday we start climbing. Each day we hike for between five and seven hours and move up the mountain slowly. It is possible to climb faster but the intent is to allow everyone to get acclimatized slowly. Problems develop in the lungs and the brain (some people don’t think people that do this have brains; maybe just very small ones) when you gain altitude too fast. So the trick is to go slow. Continue to climb until next Sunday which should be summit day. Come part way down on Sunday and spend the last night on the hill.
Monday we come down the mountain and spend the night back in Nairobi.
On Tuesday the safari guides pick us up at the hotel and we head out for Massai Mara. The safari is arranged so you go out early in the morning and late in the evenings to see animals when they are most active. So, Tuesday night we will drive through the reserve. They have open top mini vans. Or at least the tops extend up so you can stand up and look out without leaving the vehicle. It’s not good to mingle with the local wildlife. When we have gone into the bush here, the wildlife won’t get too concerned if no one gets out of the vehicle but as soon as a door opens they scatter. On Wednesday we will go for morning and evening tours and then on Thursday we will have a morning tour and head back to Nairobi. The guide service provides a tent to stay in. The tents are like canvas wall tent used for hunting in the US. Hope the tents are lion proofed. Food will also be provided so it shouldn’t be too tough of a week.
When we get back to Nairobi on Thursday, a van is will meet us and drive us to Magadi. The trip wouldn’t be complete if the kids didn’t see where the mother-load and dad live. We will go visit one of the villages nearby so they can appreciate what they have. After visiting the bush, they will never be able to complain about what they have – never-.
Then on Saturday, December 4th the group heads back to the US this includes Debi. Hopefully it will be a fun experience for all. I can guarantee they will all be tired. Hope they are not expected to perform well when they return to work on Monday.
Debi needs to get back to the US to get my Christmas present. I’ll do the normal shopping (ask the girls what Debi wants, have Shena buy it, and I’m done). For those interested, I return on December 18; Shena will have my shopping done by then, I hope.
Hope these next two weeks go well. If they don’t know one else will want to come and visit (too late for you Margaret, your tickets bought).
Love
Paul/dad
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