The Day Before the Kilimanjaro Marathon

Bob is preparing us for our hash in Machame. Historically he volunteers for the hash before the Kilimanjaro Marathon so that he can set something that will take us up and down hills and make us less horrified at the hills on this race. He did a great job. After the hash I couldn't walk for two days.

In addition to Bob, Phil and Sarah co-hosted the hash. Sarah made the food, and was her usual charming self. Bob made his elk spaghetti.

Simon (the 2nd fastest runner up Kilimanjaro) and Greg talk about the upcoming marathon.

After the hash the group enjoys the bites and listens to Bob

Now it is the day before the marathon and the signs are everywhere.

This amazing blown up advertisement for the biggest sponsor, Kilimanjaro Beer is right on the corner that everyone has to pass by.

Ndizi mama came early and wished John and I success for the marathon (I didn't explain that I was only doing 5K! Now we have our potassium.

We took a quick trip up to Marangu to see our carver, and found a goat out on a Saturday ride. What a delightful ride for him, though I fear that it will not end well.

These babies as well are being raised for food, but are very cute right now.

A wedding in Marangu complete with brass band on the car. I guess the bride and groom don't want to participate in the marathon.

One of the oldest hotels in the region, The Marangu Hotel, still serves many customers and provides thousands of climbers with guides and porters from it's beautiful old hotel campus. This bird of paradise is just one of the lush sights of the area.

Here is John crossing the finish line in 2008. He hopes to better his time this year after 3 years nursing his knee. He is certainly fit. Wish us all well!!

Life around Moshi (Kweli?)

How wonderful to find that we were so intent on bringing a proper sprinkler back from the states for our gardener, that we could walk across the street and see what his wife fashioned from a $1bottle of water. It has as much power as the sprinkler and is so much more of a conversation piece. Personally I am going to use all water bottles this way in the future.

But on to other adventures. John was a community choir pretender on Saturday and accompanied me (actually drove half of us) to the Sugar Plantation (TPC) to the home of Catherine and John Paul. It was of course fantastic. Catherine and John Paul were perfect hosts, and we were really treated to a wonderful evening. Ben and John and here talking undoubtedly about Ben's impending departure from KCMC and our feelings of woe and tragedy about that. As well, they just like one another, and that sets the tone for an evening. It seemed that everyone just plain liked one another.

John Paul and Catherine had a fantastic bar built out of a fishing boat. A whole fishing boat that they bought right from a fisherman. It was beautiful. One piece of wood honed with loving hands. I am sure it was sea worthy, but also drink worthy and one of those pieces that you can lean on.

part of the choir listening to stories of..... "choir" or "Clive"

A great story of Clive (above)

We all brought a little meat and grilled it. Catherine and John Paul made side dishes and this was a feast!

We have a nice little choir!

Here is the thatched roof of their gazebo. All the thatch was gathered and woven by their housekeeper. John Paul had brought the thatch (some kind of special grass) in to plant over TPC as a ground holder. It was amazingly tight. A GREAT NIGHT

Happy Valentine's Day

One day late for Valentine's Day but such nice things. Here in Moshi, John and I traded Valentine's Day Cards. Mine was a very tasteful card, the one I purchased for John not so much. It is 3D, you open it and a light flashes and blinks in red and Eine Kleine Nachtmusik plays over and over. What a treat and all for 1500 Tsh (about $1). I am sure that the cards just enhanced our dinner up at Mama Betty's new kiosk where she makes nyama choma. Last year we ate at Mama Betty's old restaurant which was conveniently located near her house and the big Lema Road.

Unfortunately, she was uprooted from that place and was told that it was to be torn down. You can imagine our surprise when we arrived back in Moshi and discovered that a fancy pizza place had moved right into her old spot called 10-2-10 Pizza. We wonder whether the owner just didn't want someone who made really good African food (watu food) to be on that particular corner. Those delicious chapati's, fish, chicken, beef, rice and ugali..... Anyway, Mama Betty doesn't complain and as we sat at her very cute little kiosk near Mwenge college, we chatted about children, schools, life and how happy we were to be together on Valentine's Day with one of our favorite friends. Also, this Valentine's Day, a new rooster arrived for the girls. Wow. He is young and jaunty, though he looked just a little anxious as the girls looked warily at him. This morning however, he seemed quite at home.

Now this jogoo is quite stunning, not an albino, but completely white. What to name him?

Jogoo moves to the stew pot

Jogoo (Rooster) meets his end This rooster is our second and it would appear that his life was cut short by some sort of ailment. The decision was somewhat difficult as the hens do depend for some reason on their rooster, and he and they (except Edness) came together. Our second set. Only a week ago Oswald2 was dashing around the yard, filled with vigor and eager to impregate his girls. But on Monday, he staggered around like a drunkard. Pauli put "dawa" in his water-antibiotics, vitamins and other healthy things. On Tuesday, he looked a looked a little better, feathers perking up just a tad, though he walked a little and laid down a lot. "He is tired" Pauli said. "Amelala" (he sleeps) or "Amechoka" he is tired. By Friday, I was tired. I was worried that the hens would get whatever was affecting him, and though I kept them all outdoors all day, it was clear that he needed a final rest. Pauli and Rose did the deed and were very happy that I gladly told them to enjoy him. Now my hens are quieter for sure. Do we get another? I don't know.

Better days

His last day...

First Hash in Back in Moshi

First hash back We were fortunate to a. be in Moshi, and b. be able to go to the hash today! We learned that the weather is so bad in Europe that over 300 people have died, and that even the KLM plane has had a terrible time. I can count on one hand the number of times that the plane had flown directly to Dar Es Salaam to make up time, but Friday night, it happened, and all do to the weather and some engine problems. How horrible. But Dorothy's hash was in a new area, with up and downs and paths all around. Bananas, little shambas and houses and many people waited for us cheering us on as we (some of us slowly) made it through 8K with mostly running.

In addition to the nice but boiling hash, Dorothy had found some tiny baby hedgehogs and is trying to save them. This is probably a fruitless task, but these cute little babies get milk from a hypodermic needle every hour--even all night. Will they live??? All children for better or worse at the hash wanted to hold them. Let's hope we don't confer too many diseases to these tiny creatures who are so taken for granted

At the end of the hash, several people asked if I were ok. Once again the red face had come back. Personally, I didn't feel too bad, though the uphills were killers and I confess that I did not run them all.

Thank goodness the power and water were on when we got home!

Shimoni town

This was still on the way--forgot it in previous post....so cute

Beautiful beautiful morning at the bay

I personally love this sign

So those are typical village shots, except that we were the only wazungu who were there, with the exception of the Hemphills, and the tourists who came through in the early morning on buses to go snorkeling across the channel and actually put there feet on the ground in Shimoni long enough to get on the little ferry to take them over to the snorkeling area.

Postscript to Safari

Suppose you come across this as you drive down your red dusty road.

Fortunately somehow they sort of lift up if your car passes an unknown test as you drive up and a police person standing under a shade tree gives you a "once over". And, suppose you see this sight...

We never figured out why so many camels were near Mombasa but we think it has to do with the Arab influence and the love of camel's milk. John could do a very good practice treating brucellosis I think, but he declined the thought. We encountered many of these signs

Thank goodness the boys understood the meaning of this sign.

And if one gets too tired after all this, there is always a place to get a nice comfortable peaceful rest.

Trip to Shimoni Reef Kenya

Weekends in Tanzania are always good. Time to rest, get together with friends, and sometimes an excursion. This past weekend was no different. Other than coming down with my first cold in years, (not due to the fishing trip) this was terrific. If you discount the long travel over "roads", the experience was wonderful. I always watch for interesting signs and this trip provided a plethora of new and interesting ones. With my newish camera and our good friend Bob as driver, I was settled into my nest in the back seat, camera fully ready, and let the fun begin. We only made "deviations" two or three times, and learned that the Mombasa ferry was NOT for us, that no matter what you do to avoid them trucks will be in front of you spewing diesel fumes all around, and that there are few places to use the loo.

Though Bob and John thought that I would have a great opportunity to set up a clinical social work practice in either Holili (Tanzanian Border) or Taveta (Kenyan Border) I have no interest in such an endeavor.

What a surprise, beautiful country side and elephants, too.

Simon was our captain. If you plan to make this long trip, I highly recommend the Hemphill group and their crew.

The trip was about fishing after all, and fortunately, the boys were able to catch more fish than got away. I recall a Marlin a piece, and a total of 4 sail fish. Just remember that they are let go! They also caught some beautiful Dolphin Fish.

But then there is the agony of defeat.

The crew put up the number of "catch" at the end of each day. Cheers.

And one last humorous bar sign as we leave the fabulous trip.