ÿþ<html> <head> <style type="text/css"> body { background-color:black; color:white; font-family:bookman old style,times roman; font-size:105%} h1 { text-align:center; color:gold; font-family:Monotype Corsiva,times roman} h2 { text-align:center; color:gold; font-family:Monotype Corsiva,times roman} table.big { width:850; font-size:110%} table.left { float:left; width:1; font-family:arial; font-size:50%} table.right { float:right; width:1; font-family:arial; font-size:50%} table.small { float:right; background-color:AA5500; color:black; font-size:60%; font-weight:bold; border:red blank; width:225} tr { vertical-align:top;} td.time { font-weight:bold; width:70} td.odo { font-weight:bold; width:60} p { text-align:left} p.center { text-align:center} p.bottom { text-align:center; font-size:80%} b.gold { color:gold} b.aqua { color:aqua} b.white { color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:110%} img.v { width:77; border:0} img.h { height:77; border:0} </style> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="d.css" /> <title>Tanzania -- Day 2</title> </head> <body> <p class="center"> <table class="big"> <tr> <td colspan=2> <h1>Day 2 -- 5th Sep</h1> <td> </tr> <tr> <td class="time">Time</td> <td><td> </tr> <tr> <td class="time">6:30</td> <td> <p> Morning call: hot coffee and tea was delivered to our tent, followed by hot water for washing. Not a bad way to begin a new day on trek. </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="time">7:05</td> <td> <p> <table class="left"> <tr><td><a href="photos/DSCN5233.JPG" target="blank"> <img class="h" src="thumbnails/DSCN5233.JPG"></a></td></tr> <tr><td>Hot porridge.</td></tr></table> For breakfast, we had hot porridge, English muffins, eggs, fruit, and of course, coffee and tea. It was quite cold, and we had a steep climb before us, so it was important to fill up our tanks. However, CK was feeling the effect of the altitude: loss of appetite. Nevertheless, he tried his best to eat as much as he could. </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="time">8:10</td> <td> <p> <table class="right"> <tr> <td><a href="photos/DSCN5242.JPG" target="blank"> <img class="v" src="thumbnails/DSCN5242.JPG"></a></td> <td><a href="photos/DSCN5243.JPG" target="blank"> <img class="v" src="thumbnails/DSCN5243.JPG"></a></td> </tr> <tr><td colspan=2>Beneath the Spanish moss.</td></tr></table> After filling up our water bottles, we followed Sharia and hit the trail. We hiked through a humid forest, where Spanish moss draped thickly on every branch. The trail ascended steadily as we climbed slowly up the western side of the Shira Plateau. </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="time">9:30</td> <td> <p> Crossing the tree line was like walking into a different landscape. The tall trees abruptly disappeared, and was replaced by heather scrubs. This was also the elevation of the clouds, and we were soon walking in misty air. Following a ridge, the trail became quite steep, but Sharia kept a slow and steady pace to make sure we did not exhaust ourselves with unnecessary haste. </p> <table class="left"> <tr style={vertical-align:bottom}> <td><a href="photos/DSCN5246.JPG" target="blank"> <img class="v" src="thumbnails/DSCN5246.JPG"></a></td> <td><a href="photos/DSCN5253.JPG" target="blank"> <img class="v" src="thumbnails/DSCN5253.JPG"></a></td> <td><a href="photos/DSCN5258.JPG" target="blank"> <img class="v" src="thumbnails/DSCN5258.JPG"></a></td> <td><a href="photos/DSCN5251.JPG" target="blank"> <img class="v" src="thumbnails/DSCN5251.JPG"></a></td> <td><a href="photos/DSCN5247.JPG" target="blank"> <img class="v" src="thumbnails/DSCN5247.JPG"></a></td> <td><a href="photos/DSCN5252.JPG" target="blank"> <img class="h" src="thumbnails/DSCN5252.JPG"></a></td> <td><a href="photos/DSCN5255.JPG" target="blank"> <img class="h" src="thumbnails/DSCN5255.JPG"></a></td> <td><a href="photos/DSCN5259.JPG" target="blank"> <img class="h" src="thumbnails/DSCN5259.JPG"></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan=2>Sharia leading us through the heather.</td> <td>Taking a break.</td> <td>Through the mist.</td> <td colspan=3>Wild flowers along the trail.</td> <td>Grass clusters.</td> </tr></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="time">12:00</td> <td> <p> <table class="left"> <tr><td><a href="photos/DSCN5260.JPG" target="blank"> <img class="v" src="thumbnails/DSCN5260.JPG"></a></td></tr> <tr><td>Emily and pasta.</td></tr></table> It was quite cold and windy when we came across our table (we recognized the red tablecloth) beside the trail. Lunchtime! After putting on warm clothings and had some hot tea, we were offered delicious warm pasta, which really helped keeping our body warm. Nevertheless, we decided to resume trekking as soon as we finished lunch; it was warmer to walk than to sit in the cold wind. </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="time">12:35</td> <td> <p> <table class="right"> <tr> <td><a href="photos/DSCN5263.JPG" target="blank"> <img class="h" src="thumbnails/DSCN5263.JPG"></a></td> <td><a href="photos/DSCN5265.JPG" target="blank"> <img class="h" src="thumbnails/DSCN5265.JPG"></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Feeling good after lunch.</td> <td>From left: Sharia, Emily and Wilbard.</td> </tr></table> After lunch, the trail levelled out along a ridge. We had successfully reached the <b class="gold">Shira Plateau</b>, and after 30 minutes <b class="gold">Kibo</b>, the main massif of Kilimanjaro, revealed itself. Rising above the Shira Plateau, the solitary mountain reached in the clouds which hid its summit and disguised its height. It was an emotional moment. We saw our goal. We just needed to keep walking ... </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="time">13:40</td> <td> <p> <table class="right"> <tr> <td><a href="photos/DSCN5267.JPG" target="blank"> <img class="h" src="thumbnails/DSCN5267.JPG"></a></td> <td><a href="photos/DSCN5277.JPG" target="blank"> <img class="h" src="thumbnails/DSCN5277.JPG"></a></td> <td><a href="photos/DSCN5276.JPG" target="blank"> <img class="h" src="thumbnails/DSCN5276.JPG"></a></td> <td><a href="photos/DSCN5269.JPG" target="blank"> <img class="h" src="thumbnails/DSCN5269.JPG"></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Setting up camp.</td> <td>From left: mess tent, sleeping tent & kitchen.</td> <td>Kibo among the clouds.</td> <td>Emily resting in the tent after the hike.</td> </tr></table> We reached the wide open <b class="gold">Shira 1 Camp</b> (3610m). The heather bushes had long disappeared; the Shira Plateau was a wide expanse of arid flat moorland, like a huge canvas framing the majestic profile of Kibo. As we enjoyed tea in camp, we watched clouds float across the summit, when the sun slowly sank beneath the edge of Shira Plateau. </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="time">18:00</td> <td> <p> <table class="small"> <tr><td> <b class="white">Forest Camp - Shira 1 Camp</b><br> <b class="white">(8.5km ‘!960m)</b></br> The short, steep and spectacular climb transverses three ecozones (tropical forest, heather scrubs, moorland) and gains nearly 1000m to the Shira Plateau. </td></tr> </table> <table class="left"> <tr> <td><a href="photos/DSCN5270.JPG" target="blank"> <img class="v" src="thumbnails/DSCN5270.JPG"></a></td> <td><a href="photos/DSCN5280.JPG" target="blank"> <img class="v" src="thumbnails/DSCN5280.JPG"></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Altitude sickness?</td> <td>Bon appetite!</td> </tr></table> The eagerly awaited dinner was served: potato soup, cheese bread, chicken, spinach, rice, salad, fruit ... Wilbard and Sharia dropped by and wished us <i>lala salama</i> (sweet dreams) and we replied <i>na wewe pia</i> (and you too). </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="time">20:00</td> <td> <p> Time to sleep. Tomorrow we would cross the Shira Plateau. </p> <p style={text-align:right}><a href="d03.html">next day</a></p> <td> </tr> <tr><td colspan=2> <hr> <p class="bottom"> <form name="nav" method="POST"> <div align="center"> Jump To: <select name="xfer" size="1"> <option value="../../private/index.html">CK's Home Page</option> <option value="index.html">Tanzania Trip</option> <option value="d01.html">Day 1</option> <option value="d02.html" selected="selected">Day 2</option> <option value="d03.html">Day 3</option> <option value="d04.html">Day 4</option> <option value="d05.html">Day 5</option> <option value="d06.html">Day 6</option> <option value="d07.html">Day 7</option> <option value="d08.html">Day 8</option> <option value="d09.html">Day 9</option> <option value="d10.html">Day 10</option> <option value="d11.html">Day 11</option> <option value="d12.html">Day 12</option> <option value="d13.html">Day 13</option> <option value="d14.html">Day 14</option> <option value="thoughts.html">Thoughts</option> </select> <input type="button" onclick="location = ''+document.nav.xfer.options[document.nav.xfer.selectedIndex].value;" value="Go!" /> <div style={font-size:75%}> (These pages were developed with Internet Explorer and may not align correctly in other browsers.) </div> </div></form> </p> <p align="center">Created on 27th Sep 2006. 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