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
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. 
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