We all get up early and get ready. After a quick eggs and toast, we move our luggage and separate what is to stay and what is going. Our packs, shoes and all look clean....too clean for a Kili trip.
We are on our way to the gate and are stuck in traffic (many hikers and buses). There is a non-4 wheel bus stuck so all the porters come and help push. To no avail, a whole bunch of guys get on to the roof top and add weight to the back. 20 on top and 5 pushing!! It is extremely muddy but it works and the bus is out of the way. Another gets stuck too and we are just waiting now. It is our turn and we make it into the gate. We unload and start gearing up. Water, gaiters (to keep mud out) and registration. Once finished, we wait for all the porters and stuff to be weighed in. There are 23 people going with the five us. Cooks, porters, asst. cooks, guides, asst. guides, etc. One person can only carry 15 Kgs so we need a lot of people. We finally start climbing at 12:30pm.
We break for lunch at a picnic table at 1:30 and have lunch. We start up after lunch and take several breaks at outhouses. We talk about everything from Michael Jackson to politics. We are all in th emood for future trips like Macchu Picchu. Pradeep did not want to waster water so he carries 7L of water as the rest of us only carry 4L. My pack could be lighter. Tomorrow for sure.
The gate was at 1800m and we ascend to 3000m at Machame Hut. We make it to registration and then our tents. We eat tea and I break out the Chevdo. We get our bags settled in and proceed to dinner after a wipe bath and change of clothes. Dinner menu: leek soup, salad, vegetable sauce, spaghetti and tilapia for the guys. We go to bed at 9pm. We are to get up at 6:30am for 8:3am departure.
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