BLOGGE(RED) Day 8

Sat. Early morning today, setting of on Magrotto trek. 1km vertical height, so very mild compared to Mt Kili, but good training grounds. Lots of walking. 1 hour to walk from Teule hospital to town of Magila, at the base of the mountain.


Met a guide there and he took us up. Took about 4 hours to ascend, nice views.


Hari got really sick and we had to stop lots of times. we forgot to bring food. He started becoming dizzy, nauseous, and needed to rest frequently and he really looked unwell. I was worried. We took a small detour to visit the dam, and although Hari could barely walk there, he made it there, just, and lay down for a while. Amazing to see such a large collection of water on a mountain!

It was lucky that we took this detour, because on our way back, we saw some ladies who walked by, and I asked them if they had any food and though most of them had nothing, one lady had a basket with about 4 mangoes in it. We bought 2 despite Hari's demands for THREE. Thankfully I also had my swiss army knife on me and we cut up the mangoes which Hari wolfed down, after which he felt much better and had the energy to go on. Med students: diagnosis?




At the top there was a small town that had no electricity, i had some ugali and beans there with a bottle of coke. Really needed the electrolytes after that climb. Lost so much water and electrolytes through sweat, the heat was intense. The occasional cool breeze was very welcome. Had my ipod on me to help pass the time. The guide is only 20, wanted to study engineering at university but wasn't able to due to financial reasons. It costs 1 million shillings ($900 AUD) a year to study at university. Anyone want to start a tour guide go to uni fund?

After lunch the way down was much quicker, although annoying because of the pressure on the knees, and rocks inside our shoes didn't help either. I started feeling a bit sick, possibly gastritis due to doxycycline. Managed to make it home in time, bought a banana and mango in town on our way back. Drenched in sweat, the shower was awesome!

Hari might look happy here, but this was on our way down after the mangoes had been eaten. Should have photographed it when he was ill, it would have been hilarious but at the time we were all genuinely worried and didn't want to take any photos!

Night out for chapati tonight, then probably a movie and/or some study. Tomorrow will be a rest day.

Ended up sleeping from about 5.30pm until 8am...