Bath Day - Rub a Dub Dub

Impatiens Kilimanjaro

Up at 6 a.m., on the trail by 8 with three hours of walking to the gate of the national park, where we'll take a car to the lodge. My legs are killing me, so I go slowly with Neal and Joann. Ben hangs back with us. We quickly enter the forest, but it is hard to look at the beautiful scenery when trying to walk. Noel soon joins us and we have a great time walking, talking and photographing the giant ferns and Impatiens Kilimanjaro, the tiny red flower that grows no where else on Earth. We make it to the gate, but we are way late. Lunch is ready, so we sign in with the park officials for the last time and then eat.

While we head to Moiravo Lodge in Arusha, our porters head to their homes in Arusha. It is bittersweet saying goodbye. The drive takes us through more temporary villages sitting on cliff edges and through small towns with lively markets and outdoor cafes. We pass stick houses and mud houses and cement block houses and palaces. Coffee and Banana plants grow everywhere. People are riding bikes or pushing bikes heavy with water and milk jugs. They are pulling carts loaded with straw or red potatoes. Most are simply walking with bundles on their heads, all trying to share the road without mishap. It takes about 1.5 hours to get to the lodge, which sits on a deeply rutted road just off the main highway in Arusha. The lodge cheers us up immediately, especially when the manager meets us at the door with glasses of watermelon juice. We are dirty, our boots and gaiters coated in dust. None of us has showered in five days.

The gardens, with paths, are remarkable. A deep verandah overlooks the gardens, including the pool. Many people staying at the lodge are on safari, though a few folks walking through have obviously just gotten off the mountain (it's hard not to giggle when we recognize their pained walking). Christina, Licia and Ken sit in the lodge bar drinking beer while I shower. Ahhh, how wonderful to shave! I take my time conditioning my hair, then brush my teeth and put on make-up. In the bar, I order a Tusker beer, but sip it slowly. We move to the verandah and also have dinner there. After dinner, we move to the sofas on the other end of the verandah and chat with Ben and Noel, playing word games and tic/tac/toe. Our room has mosquito nets over the bed, which are fun. The mattress is firm foam and feels great. Clean linens!! Our first night indoors in more than a week! Sleep is glorious.