Saturday September 22, 2012

When last we heard from our intrepid wanderers, we were in search of a small cooler left (perhaps) aboard the ferry from Zanzibar. Our bus driver called to say he was going to the ferry building at 6 AM sharp when they opened to attempt to retrieve the package. Apparently the cooler was found but the ferry company would not release it to our bus driver so our fearless leader departed from the Landmark Hotel at around 7 AM in a small taxi (about the size of large bean bag chair) for the ferry. It took some time in Saturday morning traffic, but we were reunited (cooler and group) at about 8:30 and took off from the hotel about 9:15 AM it is about a 300 mile trip on a two lane road littered with trucks and buses. We found out later that both Zambia and Mozambique to the west are land locked and must receive most of their fuel, food and supplies by truck. We were in a convoy of trucks for the entire length of the trip. In addition, a lunatic group of "Higer" buses were convoying west. We would pass some of them at a police checkpoint (more later) and they would pass us in a clearly marked no passing zone. The trip took 8.5 hours including an hour stop at the Tan-Swiss restaurant and lodge. We passed through Minkumi National Park where numerous (and I mean every 200 yards) speed bumps rearranged our spines. However, the trip was well worth it, as we approached Minkumi, we started seeing monkeys by the side of the road, then giraffes, then elephants, then water buffalo and then impala. This went on for about an hour with each of us screaming: "monkey left 200 yards", "giraffe under that big tree with leaves", "elephant herd next to that big tree on the right","no I meant the left", "thanks Noel, it doesn't do us much good to look right when the animals are on the left" and so on. Tobie beat me in directions, but we all had a great time spotting the animals. It was a bit easier spotting animals this season because it is very dry and not many leaves on the trees. We could see for many miles up the side of otherwise tree covered hills. Most of the monkeys were spotted near the river where some irrigation is keeping fields and trees green. Otherwise the trip was in dry savannah. About 1:30 PM the bus operator hands us the cell phone and says we can make our order to Tan-Swiss for lunch. After last night's fiasco, we started to order simple things spaghetti without sauce, chicken and chips, and some ham and cheese sandwiches. Soon the order got confused and Dale said: "Let's all order the same thing, I vote for ham and cheese sandwiches". He told the order taker we wanted to start again and ordered 9 ham and cheese sandwiches with chips. I will keep reminding you that chips really is french fries. After hanging up we started to bet what the order really would be and when we arrived we were served 8 ham and cheese sandwiches and 2 chicken and rice dinners. Luckily we were to feed the driver and guide and gave one of the chicken and rice dinners to them and the other to Dale (who really wanted chicken and rice to start with). We decided that from now on we would order 9 of the same thing and hope for the best. Our ordering talents clearly didn't match what the restaurants expected.

We blasted west to Iringa arriving at the Lutheran Center at about 6:15 PM. The sun was just setting so we quickly unloaded the 26 suitcases, backpacks, computers and sewing machines. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we have a sewing machine along so that Sharon can keep making little dresses and such. It survived the trip very well and is set up across the room with all of the other sewing cutting boards, accessories, and such. We are renting two apartments at the Lutheran Center apartment complex. Dale, Carrie and the family will be in A-5, an apartment permanently rented for visiting clergy. Sharon and I are in C-6, the top floor of a building a few 10's of yards away. Each building is 6 apartments, each up a half flight from the previous. They have 3 bedrooms, living room, dining room, office, two bathrooms, a kitchen with pantry and laundry area and a small porch. The master bedroom includes a bathroom and walk-in closet. I set up the computer and ham radio stuff on one side of the office and the sewing machine is set up on the other side. After loading all things into these two apartments we ventured across the street to the Lutheran Center which has a restaurant and rooms for visiting groups. Tom Nielsen is running Bega Kwa Bega during the first part of our visit and walked us over to the restaurant where we enjoyed a dinner of chicken, salad, spaghetti, and pineapple with custard sauce. After which we parted ways and began to unpack our stuff. We then repacked for our Sunday trip to Ilula and its church and hospital. Carrie's parents, David and Ginny Johnson, are members of the sister church to Ilula and that church has not had a visit from its U.S. partner in a number of years. David and Ginny will represent their church and are bringing a wall hanging and other gifts for Ilula. We will stay Sunday night at the guest house at the Ilula hospital. This guest house is for visiting doctors, nurses and such who are helping train nurses and staff at the hospital. We saw these houses under construction in 2007 so it should be interesting to see what has transpired. Monday we will tour the hospital and return to Iringa for one night here at the apartments. Tuesday morning we leave and drive about 100 miles west to Ruhaha National Park where we stay at a camp and explore the park. We will go out Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday morning and Wednesday afternoon to see the animals. Thursday morning, after breakfast, we return to Iringa for an extended stay (5 days) awaiting the arrival of the group from Fish Lake. The internet is not turned on for me yet, so I am recording these daily and will upload them as a bunch when the internet gurus show up Monday (I hope). At least there was beer in the fridge here! I went right to sleep.