Chapter 3

At breakfast more people had arrived from all over the world Germany, Finland, Canada and from the US. We all chatted as a big group about the adventure that lay ahead of us, and for two of our number the adventure they had already experienced returning from there trip the previous day. There was a buzz around the table as people discussed the merits of different routes and I rapidly came to the realisation that I was on my own. No body on the table was going the same route as me, the Marangu route. I found this slightly disconcerting.

Choosing to go it alone was a difficult one and I did so for several reasons mainly because of what happened to my brother I needed the time to think, alone. I also wanted to do it alone to prove to my self that I could do this without any help or support. Aside from these reasons I don’t think any body else I knew was stupid enough to do it. I did want traveling partners though some one to talk to except the guide and I had assumed I would be matched up with another group which was looking unlikely. At that moment another lone traveler came down and asked if he could sit in the empty space opposite me. His name was Darren a computer programmer from Canada. It must have been playing on my mind because after the pleasantries my first question was which route are you taking. I was relieved when he answered ‘Marangu’.

After breakfast we all departed to prepare bags and settle hotel bills ready to leave for the mountain in about half an hour. Everything went smoothly for me until I went to pay the bill, Patience the lady at reception was shaking her head at me as she counted the receipts together. Normally I would be proud of her comment to me but at that point I was worried she looked up at me and said ‘To much beer Chris’ its not good for the mountain. No hotel had ever told me I had drunk too much beer, except that one time whilst traveling in the south of France but that’s another story involving hair loss and blood covered broken glass.

The morning of departure

Once I had settled up I met up with Darren as we waited to be picked up and taken to the tour company to meet our guide and porters. They came in a safari bus which we loaded are gear into and took the short drive to ‘Zara’ tours. Walking into the office we were greeted by our guides, so some unknown reason they had separated us and we were going to be going with different guides. The guides where great and fairly chatty immediately trying to work out who we were what we did etc. My guide Daniel bemused me he was wearing a florescent jacket and hat combination, It was in the region of 29°c.

Then Daniel introduced me to another member of my small group, a stunning French girl called Valerie. She explained she had been made redundant and decided to spend the next 6 months travelling around Africa. What a way to live your life I had to respect her it was hard enough for me to do this on my own and I am a guy but travelling for six months I am not sure I could have done that, if your reading this Valerie good on you. Then Darren, Valerie, the guides, the porters and my self piled into the minibus and we set of for Marangu gate where the trek would begin.