Birthday Sunday - not!

5 am - rise and shine... Alex goes to work early on sundays. He volonteers for work practice at Boulangerie "Ferrigno" in Grillon. After one week of mandatory work practice before christmas (all last graders do this!), for which he had chosen our local bakery, he was hooked! He has now decided that it is within the restaurant business he wants to dedicate himself, maybe specializing in "pâtisserie" . So to learn, and help his new friend Rudy, he raises early sunday, to help him with the preparation of bread and cakes.

He also helps out in the shop, since Rudy's wife Christelle is often very busy with their two youngsters (i.e monsters) Timeo and Lea. They've built a great relationship, Rudy and Christelle are a very young couple, full of energy, and they given Alex a lot of responsability, and he has taken it on seriously. Great both ways. And great for us - Alex comes home every sunday with fresh bread and other goodies!
Go back to bed after bringing Alex to work - it is still pitch dark at that time, so going on his bike without headlamp (Bram has taken the good one with him to africa), doesn't feel really safe. Sound asleep, I'm awaken by an early phonecall. Bram calling home to wish me a happy birthday.... which it is not! I think he's forgotten my B-day is the 31st and not the 30th, but he came up with another excuse; he thought it was the 31st! Well... it was cute, but I can see through the excuse ;)

Anyhow, I got the full update! They arrived yesterday in Kasese, one of the bigger cities in Uganda, one day ahead of schedule. Big city? haha... a small dusty town, dirtroad and a 5min drive through. Not nice at all, actually. They arrived quite late, the hotel was terrible with shower that didn't work, humid with no airco and the food they were eventually served, was scary. They decided to stay only the night and find something else, because this place and town, just didn't feel right. So this morning they asked their travel guide to transfer them somewhere else, they still have two full days and nights to spend in this part of the world! 
So he drove them out of town, not very far, and voila.. the Simba Safari Camp. Wonderful place with lodges, restaurant and wild life surroundings, in the Queen Elisabeth Natural Park. Friendly, serviceminded, clean, scenic surroundings, good food and cold beer... Temperature just under 30°C and a breeze... I mean, life IS a bitch! Perfect place to wind down from last weeks climbing and simple living. This afternoon they're off for a boat safari on the Kazinga channel, in the dry season the animals go there to drink, and it's said to contain the world's largest concentration of hippos. Tomorrow they're off for another safari, this one in real Tarzan country, tracking chimpanzees! On Tuesday they leave Kasese and drive through the park of Queen Elisabeth to Bwindi, to track the gorillas...

The mountain trek and climb has been fantastic, with stunning views and great company. They, and 4 other companions (3 austrians and 1 ?), made a great group of 6, with one guide and two porters. The sleeping huts were well tended for and clean, the food was great and the weather exceptional! It was awesome. Not very difficult, of course you feel the altitude, but easy compared to Mont Blanc ! Bram said they're lucky with the weather - the same trek would not have been so great, should they have had rain... it is very muddy, and even now in the dry season, rubber boots are mandatory for a big part of the trek! And that's equal to stinky feet and sweating. With the heat and humidity around the equator - rubber boots is not exactly what you're longing for! Must have been smelly in those huts....
Me and Brigitte wish a great end of the weekend and why not Happy Birthday too - after all, every day is a party... stay tuned! Love Jenny

Connected !!

9:00 am Just in from the Rwenzoris: All well, coming down into reachable area, on the top thursday, will call as soon as connection gets better to catch up!

Then a 10 sec phone call from Bram, but the line was too bad, they'll try later as it improves.

Good to hear from them... it's been a while.

Radiosilence....

Unfortunately that is true. And it's not because they're saving $$$$$ on their phonecard... it's simpler than that. Just ,no coverage. Boys, you didn't do your homework and broke an important agreement.

1. A quick googling will tell you that european mobile phone coverage in Uganda is lousy, 
2. the promise to bring a satellite phone in case of emergencies (both ways!) and to be able to feed the travel blog for our readers

Well, nothing we can do about it, we'll have to wait until the 29th, then they're back in the hut where we had a message from them 2 1/2 day ago. Unless their batteries gone dead ;))) Maybe some chimpanzee STOLE Tim's phone, took it literally for a blackberry... haha, bad joke... 

Todays schedule should have included the ascent of Mount Alexander and Mount Speke, at 4850m (that is a little higher than Mt Blanc) with great views of the Savoia and Elena glaciers, going through the Scott Elliott pass and proceed through the snow to the Elena Hut at 4560m, where I assumee they're snoring away at the moment. Tomorrow is summit day of Mount Margarita at 5109m, then a 1000m descent before next reststop. We hope they're doing well and having a great time! Weather forecast is fantastic with clear skies, day and night! 

Be patient and stay tuned.... Goodnight Family & Friends,

Love Jen

3rd Day of Trek

Not much news today, I guess the guys are careful using their 25$ phone card... An SMS probably doesn't come cheap from Uganda? We got one message this morning though: "We're off for another day of trek, today tougher than yesterday, weather is fantastic and we had a good night of sleep". That was it... sounds like as good as it gets, n'est-ce pas?? Today they climbed approximately 915 altitude meter, starting after an early breakfast towards the John Matte Hut. 
The hike took them through the Kurt Sharfer Bridge, along the sparkling Mubuku river, view stunning views of Mount Stanley and Speke. Nature with open patches, Lobelia and heath moss forest! With that kind of weather, I bet they had a great day.


I found this great trip report from a bunch of norwegian guys, who climbed the peaks of the rwenzoris in january. Read and enjoy, it cannot get anymore detailed than this! http://www.ii.uib.no/~petter/mountains/5000mtn/Uganda/trip-report.html

Since there was not much news, I spent a part of my morning preparing an email to all our family, friends and contacts, including the information of the purpose of this trip and more information of the Haitian orphans, that we're trying to help. Diane, representing MAEC (Maison Arc en Ciel), has posted our blog on their facebook website, and sent out a separate message notifying their international followers of our action. She alse sent me a kind note... 
 "Thank you Jenny - I am copying Danielle, they need to know people are with them in this particular difficult period, believing and hoping for Haïti, and also she and Junior will be able to follow Bram's adventure, climbing slowly but surely, something they must do everyday with the personal and the kids, an everyday battle, but with '' plateaux '' for breathing and observing their accomplishments ! May Bram and his friend reach their goal safely ! Diane X0X"

We're doing a pretty good job raising awareness - please help us spreading the message even further! 

Tenebo - Together... Stay tuned, be safe, 

Love Jenny, with Brigitte as my guardian angel (read... guarding her mobile phone like a precious diamond!)

Arrival and first two days of trek...

An 8hr direct flight from Amsterdam to Kampala and 3 hrs of throw-up style turbulence.... Bram and Tim were met up at the airport with a "welcome to Africa sign Mr Mul & Mr Uuden" by two guys from the trek organisation. No luggage lost, on time and off to the Airport Guest house, where a homecooked meal and a cold beer waited, to cool off travel and temperature. Hot, hot and humid... The complete opposite to Zanskars -30°C  last year!

After a good night of sleep, departure next morning at 8am by Jeep, for a 5hr trip down to departure point of the trek, the Rwenzori basecamp. But roads were really bad, going through a typical african landscape with people hiking in both directions, a colourful sight on a long bumpy journey, ending up taking 8 hrs. As they got further and further into the bush, the phone signal got weaker and weaker... and with no more news from the boys, Brigitte and I feared we would probably not have any further contact. Until they come out of the bush again, in 14 DAYS !!! *%$#@!.... they should have brought that satellite telephone after all!! How fun is that... not having a sign of life for the newt two weeks :(

But, against all odds... the boys were smart enough to purchase a local phonecard for 25 dollars, and with the access to a local phoneprovider, we had our first SMS in this morning! They boys were on the foottrail, leaving base camp at 1646m, gaining altitude towards the first stop on the trek, the Nyabitaba Hut at 2650m, hiking along the thick equitorial vegetation along the Kubuku river. They've arrived and with them a new sms reading: Great to know that our SMS arrive. We're in the first altitude camp, a couple of steep parts, some good sweating. Unfortunately still have my cold (Tim) but it's OK. Great guide and porters (2). Big kiss Tim & Bram. Brigitte tried to return a SMS, but it doesn't work. So we'll hope the connection will last as they get further into the mountains. 

The rwenzori mountains sit on the border of Uganda and Congo, with the actual summit on the border! It's right on the equator and therefore hot and humid... Bram's not taking the malaria pills, they have so few days in the risk zone. He learned that lesson during the Kilimanjaro summit and trip a couple of years ago.

Time for homework and cooking now, busy life alone with the kids. Cold and awful mistral blowing, I can only dream of the tropical temperatures of Uganda. Be safe, stay tuned... xxx Jenny and her stand by reporter Brigitte

A new challenge for Bram, Tim and Tenebo!

At this very moment, 6 pm european time, Bram and Tim should be touching down at the Kampala airport in Uganda. A new adventure starts and hopefully we'll be able to follow them through the jungle through the Moon Mountain (Rwenzori Mountains) range and their summit of its highest peak Mt Marguerita, standing 5109 m tall. This is the 3rd highest mountain in Africa, after Kilimanjaro and Mt Kenya, and has permanent snow capped tops (still...) 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwenzori_Mountains 

Bram and Tim will be gone for a little more than two weeks, including an exciting trek into the jungle to look at the impressive gorillas. There are 3 gorilla families in Uganda that can be approached with a guide with very small groups and a permit is mandatory, which you'll have to require well in advance. I've included their itinerary below!


To raise awareness for those who really need it, we've decided to use our Tenebo association and try to collect some money for the same project as for the Zanskar trek - the Haitian orphanage Maison Arc en Ciel, for some very simple reasons:

• We have a direct link to this orphanage, knowing that every penny sent is being used for the children;
• It's been exactly one year since the earthquake hit Porto au Prince, which killed more than 280.000 people. Situation is slowly improving, but it is very very slow... only 5% of the actual rubble has been removed, and more than a million people are still living under very poor conditions in tent camps etc.. 
• With poor sanitary conditions and hygiene, Haiti has been badly hit by a big cholera outbreak, that has killed more than 2000 and is still being spread. 
• Arc en Ciel moved into their new building, even if it was not finished, to get out of Porto au Prince to avoid cholera contamination. The building still doesn't have the necessary facilities for sanitary and running water, but is safer for the children. Lack of funds have unfortunatley stalled the construction work of this building. 
• Porto au Prince is one of the poorest cities in the world. So many orphans suffering from AIDS from parents who've  died, at a constant risk of falling into the hands of child abuse. With the earthquake, there are many many more orphans, who need our help. 
• Arc en Ciel and their staff, have created a home for some of these children and through adoption the children will eventually have a new family. But they also have an extended exterior programme, delivering food, water and other help to those who are not as fortunate. 
• However small or big donation, I cannot think of a better place to give it to. Maison l'Arc en Ciel, we'll be there for you!

Here's the link to the orphanage, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=192677253183 please join them on Facebook. There are wonderful postings and photos from Diane Ferland, who is their "right hand" publishing their progress on the web... 

More details on how and when you can admit your donation, will follow in my next post, hopefully tomorrow! 

Here's the itinerary: 

UGANDA - The Rwenzori Mountain Trek and summit of Mt Marg10 Days Rwenzori Mountain Trek

21/01/2011

Day 1 Arrival -Pick you up from the air port to Air port Guest House where you will spend a night before and after.

22/01/2011

Day 2: After Breakfast Our Driver/Guide will meet up with you at your Accommodation in Entebbe to start on the Journey to Kasese. 

The Journey will take about 5 hours through Mubende District with a lunch stop in Fort Portal at the Gardens Resturant before Heading to Ibanda at the Foot of the Rwenzori for your Accommodation at RMS headquarters/Rwenzori Basecamp.

23/01/2011

DAY 3: START OF THE EQUATOR GLACIERS TOUR

Early in the morning transfer to Nyakalengija (1646 meters) where you will start your climb into the mountains. The hike takes you along the Mubuku River and through thick equatorial vegetation before arriving at the Nyabitaba hut (2650 meters). You might hear chimpanzees or see blue monkeys. Dinner and overnight in Nyabitaba hut. Total hiking time: 5-7 hours Ascent: 1200 meters

24^TH/01/2011

Day 4: JOHN MATTE HUT

After early breakfast you will start the hike through the Kurt Sharfer Bridge to marvel at the sparkling Mubuku river confluence. In the afternoon you will reach the Nyamuleju hut from where you might enjoy a nice view at Mount Stanley and Speke. Climb through the open patches, lobelia, and heath moss forest when proceeding up to the John Matte hut (3415 meters) for overnight. Total hiking time: 7 hours Ascent: 915 meters

25^TH/01/2011

Day 5: BUJUKU HUT

Depart early through the giant Lobelias and heath trees. You ascend to the Bigo Bog and scenic landscape of lobelias and giant groundsels. You will pass lake Bujuku, majestically settled between the famous mountains. Continue to a rock shelter called Cooking Pot and soon you will arrive at your final stop for today. Dinner and overnight at the Bujuku Hut (3960 meters). Total hiking time: 3-5 hours Ascent: 560 meters

26^TH/01/2011

Day 6 : ELENA HUT

Head off from the valley with scenic alpine vegetation consisting Giant Groundsels and Lobelia and continue to ascend Mount Victoria and Mount Speke at 4890 meters. Depart through the lovely views of the Savoia and Elena glaciers, scale further through to the Scott Elliott pass and proceed through the snow to the Elena Hut (4560 meters) for overnight rest. The Elena Hut will be your base for the final conquers of the Rwenzori Mountains. Total hiking time: 3-5 hours Ascent: 470 meters

27^TH/012011

Day 7: FINAL ASCENT TO THE ALPS OF AFRICA

Early morning ascent to the snowy Alexander peak (5092 meters) and then onwards to the highest peak at 5109 meters, the famous Margherita! Thereafter we directly descend to the beautiful lake Kitandara for overnight stay at Kitandara hut (4020 meters).
Total hiking time: 3-5 hours Ascent: 670 meters - Descent: 1090 meters

28^TH/01/2011

Day 8: GUY YEOMAN HUT

After early breakfast a long descent begins. First we climb from Lake Kitandara to the Fresh field Pass from where you can look into the neighboring country Congo. We will have a picnic lunch on the way and continue our journey while descending to the Guy Yeoman hut (3260 meters) for dinner and overnight. Total hiking time: 5-7 hours Descent: 1000 meters

29^TH/01/2010

Day 9: NYABITABA HUT

The last part of the hike! Drop very steeply along the Mubuku River and join the original route near the Bujuku river. Dinner and overnight at Nyabitaba Hut (2650 meters).
Total hiking time: 5-7 hours Descent: 600 meters

30^TH/01/2011

Day 10: KASESE

Today we descend to Nyakalengija which will take approximately 2-3 hours. Then we proceed to Kasese to check in at Hotel Margherita/Rwenzori International Hotel/Mweya Safari Lodge for Relaxation. Today we descend to Nyakalengija which will take approximately 2-3 hours. Then we proceed to Kasese to check in at Hotel Margherita/Rwenzori International Hotel/Mweya Safari Lodge for Relaxation.

31^ST/01/2011

Day 11: KASESE

Today we take off a day to relax and ponder on the next move to Bwindi impenetrable forest for Gorilla tracking.  While in Kasese a bit of shopping is ideal and probably mixing with the community as part of the tour.  Over night Kasese town

1^ST/02/2011

Day 12: KASESE TO BWINDI

Travel to Bwindi national park through Queen Elizabeth national park where you will be able to view a few wild animals. Check into your accommodation depending on your gorilla group.

3^rd/02/2011

Day 13: BWINDI

Go gorillas tracking with other trackers. This tracking is exciting but also tedious

Therefore you should   be prepared to go through the track.

Returning from the forest can not be predicted because finding the gorillas depends on where they slept last night. Overnight to your previous accommodation,

4^th/02/2011

Day 14: RETURN TO KAMPALA

The drive back to Kampala will take either the Fort Portal or the Ishaka-Mbarara Route with a Lunch Stop at Agip Motel and proceed with another stop at the Equator after shopping and coffee break, you will be transferred to you Accommodation in Entebbe at Entebbe Airport Guest house/The Boma Guest house.  After returning you will relax for the remaining days.

Stay tuned... love you, 

Jenny