9. Up a mountain

On our Saturday off, a group of us climbed the nearby mountain. Yes, you are reading correctly... 'us'! I was part of that team! Had I known what I let myself in for, I would probably have opted to stay at home and relax, perhaps have a shower. Just as well that I didn't know, or I would have missed this experience.

The view from our base camp of the mountain we climbed

I still don't know exactly which lump of rock we ended up on when we reached the top, but I guess it doesn't really matter. Just look at 1. how far the foot of the mountain is away from where we stayed and 2. how high that mountain is! (Just for the record, I think it is the lump on the top, on the right-hand side of  the tree, the slightly whiter bit.)

The guides arrived early in the morning, accompanied by Mchungaji Shem. We were also accompanied by 6 dogs who belonged to the guides! One of the guides wore flipflops! I had on my best kit for climbing - walking boots that are well worn in.

Setting off

The view beckoning us!

We walked across some fields, ditches, dry river beds and past some fields being worked.

Once we reached the foot of the mountain, the rise was steep! I was out of breath in no time! It wasn't long before I was out of breath and calling for a stop more often than needed. I sadly set the very slow pace for the team! I don't know why I was struggling so much as I didn't think I was that unfit, but that climb up the mountain nearly killed me! At one point I had to baboon crawl up the mountainside, dragging myself up on all fours... The agreement was that "we do not leave anyone behind" and that we only go as far as we can all get together. That spurred me on to keep going.

Yip, a bit steep!

The advantage of frequent stops (thank goodness there were advantages!) was that we could admire the view from different vantage points and take many photographs.

I am getting some moral support from the team while trying to catch my breath!

At the top of the mountain, when I realised that we actually made it to the top, or at least as far as we were going to go, I threw my arms up and shouted "Hallelujah!". The phrase 'not in my own strength but in His' certainly applied!

Finding out who my friends and enemies are! ;-)

We saw many beautiful flowers, including proteas which made me quite homesick, at the top of the mountain.

We had our lunch on the top of the world! Ibumu is about 1700m above sea level. The highest point we climbed to was 2160m.

Coming down the mountain was much easier, but still steep!

Phew. We reached the bottom!

Even the dogs were glad it was over.

A clear view

One could not help but appreciate the wonder of God's creation. Here we were in the dry season, in winter, and yet the views were beautiful. I could also not help but be impressed with the guides and pastor, who climbed the mountain with such ease. I know they live there and is used to the altitude, but still... It was less enjoyable to realise that the young guys in the group described the day's excursion as a 'stroll up the mountain' while I was fearing it may have been my last day on earth!