31 Days to go

The test for the training to climb Kilimanjaro is to see if we can walk for 7 hours up fairly steep hills and still be prepared to walk the next day. We have just taken the test….. and passed!

Monday was a public holiday in South Africa so we took this opportunity of looking for a really demanding walk. John picked us up at 5am and we motored for 3 hours to get to the Drakensburg. With a short break for breakfast we arrived at Giants Castle and we were ready to walk at 9am. There was a little tension in the air as we knew it would be a long day. We were carrying our regulation three liters of water, all the emergence stuff, two walking polls each and waterproof clothing just in case. We decided to walk out towards the Langalibalele Pass, cut across country and walk back from Bannerman’s Hut. This should be a 9hour 30minute walk with plenty of steep hills on the way. I figured we needed to test ourselves, and we did.

The way up is very steep and it seemed to take us forever. I was beginning to worry about time and considered turning around after 4 hours walking because we hadn’t managed half way by then. The group opinion was to go on. It should be down hill and easier to make up time traveling back.

We climbed higher that we have before (2,200 meters) and the flora was quite different. There had been a lot of rain recently so the rivers were full as well. One of the rivers we had to cross would have been impossible had the water been just a little higher. My new camera was working overtime and I took a movie as well to get some practice with camera angles. I must say the results are excellent.

In the end we arrived back at 18:45, and after a brief break made for the gate. Unfortunately the gate was locked by the time we got there but a guard let us out anyway. (Make mental note to be out of the park by 19:00 next time)

We were all exhausted by the time we got back to the car and the 3 hour drive home was very draining. Having been up at 04:30, driven three and a half hours to get there, walked for over nine hours, it was pretty silly to be driving in the dark for another three hours.

We all agreed, however, that this was a great day out and well within our capabilities. Next stop Kilimanjaro!

34 Days to go

The Flu or not the Flu.

We were all set to go to the Drakensburg last Monday (Public Holiday in SA). Sheila had spent Sunday doing the last of the Christmas Shopping (although I am sure there will be a few things that we just have to rush out for on Christmas Eve), and I prepared the rucksacks, washed and filled the new Camelbak water bags, and generally looked forward to the long walk in the Drakensburg. Sheila was sick when she got home from shopping and later we decided to give the Drakensburg a miss. Later still I rang John and told him that I would go but at 04:15 am on Monday I had succumbed to the bug, so we really had to cancel. Sheila and I have felt bad all week and only now coming round. We have decided to go on Saturday. I hope we will both be well then.

I have spent some of the week watching the other Kilimanjaro videos on Youtube. These are very interesting and have given me an idea how best to film the event (and what not to do as well). One Video used the music from the beginning of the Lord of the Rings movie (not right at the beginning, but where Gandalf arrives). I am sure there are some copyright issues that still have to be sorted in Youtube, but the music was perfect for the video.

One video showed a hapless couple who seemed to have rain the whole way and then couldn't stay at the top to take pictures because the mist came down and they couldn't see a thing. This is now my worst nightmare. To get all that way to see the view and pick a bad day…...

38 Days to go

To Gu or not to Gu?

I think we have most of the major stuff now. We went out today and bought what I hope is the last of the clothing that we will need. I will be doing a complete list of what we purchased and the prices later. It will be interesting to do another list when we are back of what we actually needed. I feel very much in the hands of the 4 main shops in South Africa that sell this stuff. Do we really need all of it? I will never know. One thing's for certain. I don't want to get nearly there at -20C and wish we had bought something that seemed a waste of money in the Durban Sunshine. So we have everything... and then some!

Anyway, back to my first statement. We have satisfied or outside needs. We will be warm at the top! but what about what goes on the inside? Everybody we have talked to suggest that we take a good supply of our favorite snack, energy bar, Hawaiian Mix, Tex, or whatever, but what about the energy glup that comes in a sachet and supplies you with the extra energy to get to the top. (So it says on the packet). This has got to be another one of those expensive cons..... Hasn't it?

This morning I picket up 6 different brands of energy glup, "GU" being the most famous (and, of course, the most expensive) Now if we take it like it says on the packet we will need 6 each a day at prices up to R15.99 each. Surely we don't need to spend another R1,000 on this stuff? And which brand to choose? The ingredients look really interesting but it could be written in Greek for all that it means to me. I have purchased a product called "Breakthru" which seems to have the same amount of Kj as the ones 3 times the price and we will try them on Monday in the Drakensburg. I haven't tasted it yet, it probably tastes like s**t. I will let you know.

The next decision is whether to take Diomax? This is a tablet that is meant to help with the symptoms of Altitude Sickness. Now if there is one thing that might prevent us from getting to the top it is the Nausea and Headache that comes with high altitudes. It's not just the pain, Altitude sickness is a killer so we have to be careful.

Then there is the snack bars to take. Which is your favorite brand? This may not be important to you but in the back of my mind I am imagining myself 5000 km from the nearest Engen Onestop, with a snack bar I am sick off.

One Last thing.... if you are in SA and you are thinking of doing this hike, consider looking in Mr Price Sports for some of the clothing before you spend R300.00 for teeshirt. Okay... they won't be able to help with the really specialisd stuff, but you could save at least R1,000 by visiting there first.

By the way. The picture is the flag that Chantell made for us. This ones going to the top and will be waived as the Sun raises..... with a bit of luck!

42 days to go

Just a quick note to say that the video is now available on You Tube. Click on this link to get there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTuU22Eaepk

A really big thank you to The Missing Link Team who donated their time and expertise to produce the video. Lets hope it will encourage more people to get involved.

45 Days to go

Had a great training hike today in Paradise Valley. It is not a very long walk (only about 90 minutes) so we did it twice. There is a good steep hill about half way round, just what we need to train our legs to climb.

We had a chat about Kili on the break and I was interested to hear that Sheila and John are beginning to get concerned. There is no doubt that it will be both physically and mentally challenging to do the climb but I haven't started to concern myself with that yet. Too many other things to think about. We have had so much advice from people who have made the climb I hope we don't forget anything. All the shops have lists of the things we need to get to the top. Frankly I think they overdo the stuff that they are very happy to sell us but I will only know that when we have done the trip.

We are now using a bladder in the rucksack that holds the water. This makes sense of course, as we don't have to stop to get a water bottle out of the pack. The first water bladders we purchased tasted of plastic despite the fact that we were told that they wouldn't. Mine also had a leak and the mouth piece didn't seal. I have taken it back, but they are thinking about what to do with it. We will see.

I also decided to buy myself a really good camera at the weekend. When I was in the Grand Canyon last month I took pictures with my compact 6 megapixle camera and a friend took some with his top of the range SLR. The difference was so dramatic I knew I would have to buy a new camera... but which to buy?

My son Chait is a specialist so I chatted to him and looked around. I didn't want a big SLR but I did want all the features, so we ended up with the best compact available, the Canon G9. 12 megapixles, 6 times optical zoom and the quality of the pictures is just amazing. Of course the guy behind the camera is still the same so I will need to get some training if I am to use it properly.

47 Days to go

Two hours walking last night. Nothing very exciting happened but it was very tiring after speaking all day. Nothing much to report then, except this picture taken at the local McDonald's. Maybe it is just me but this sign seems to suggest that the parking space is for a big Scotsman who enjoys eating customers.

48 Days to go

Less that 50 days now and we are really working hard on the fund raising but alas, not so hard on the training. Yesterday I flew to Johannesburg to meet with the Reach for a Dream guys and be interviewed for an advert that the really great people at Missing Link are doing. It never fails to amaze me how many fantastic people there are in the world, all of whom seem to be prepared to give their time and money without any possibility of reward. Thanks to Sean and his team for doing a great job yesterday.

I have committed to getting this blog updated twice a day with pictures and a story while we are actually climbing, so this will be the place to be between the 18th and the 23rd of January. In the mean time I would really like to get involved with a radio station, who would welcome the sort of daily input I could offer from the mountain as well as an interview at the summit. This would really help to bring in more pledges of funds for the Reach for a Dream Foundation. If you can help with this sort of contact this would be great.

No training since Sunday so no really exciting pictures of the team, but I thought I would post a picture of me and my grandson during our training on Sunday. (I am the one on the right).

51 Days to go

Lots of interesting things happening this week. Rich Mulholand has offered to create a video to publicise the climb for Reach for a Dream on the internet which is wonderful news. This will help to get the word out to a much larger audience. I am flying to Johannesburg on Tuesday to be interviewed for the video along with the RFAD team.

We have also been training of course. This afternoon we went to Virginia Bush again to get in as much hill work as possible. It is lovely in the bush and although it is not far from home it is quiet and beautiful. I took the video camera with me to get some footage to take with me on Tuesday. I am thinking of making a video of the whole thing from training to climb. Might be fun.

Chantell has also kindly personalised our kit with the new logo and created a fantastic flag to take with us to the top. Thanks Chantell.