September 24th 2011 – Asante Sana

Shower – Bar - Restaurant - Bar - Bed

2 minutes walking

We meet up with Leanne and Emma and head to the bar for a well deserved beer before the Gala Dinner.  Most of the team are already there and we joke that we don’t recognise anyone now they are clean and wearing something other than trekking trousers and boots; we are sure they are saying the same about us.  As we walk past Marvin is overheard to say “it’s like an Impulse advert” – we guess we don’t smell of dust and longdrops anymore, just that unfamiliar smell of soap and shampoo.

It would be rude not to order ourselves a bottle of Kilimanjaro beer and we begin the celebrations with our new friends.  A few beers and lots of photographs later we head to the restaurant for some food that’s been cooked in a real kitchen.

 

The starter is soup.  Really?  We’ve had soup as a starter for a week.  But there’s also real food; vegetables, red meat, chicken and chocolate mousse.  And wine. There’s also tea and coffee afterwards – with real milk – I miss the Nido already.

We are reminded we are in Africa when there’s a power cut.  It comes back on after 20 seconds or so, but where’s Foxy? We were sure he was in his seat when it all went dark....he was located at the bar a few minutes later.

After dinner David announces that we have heard from Marie Curie Head Office and they have confirmed that as a group we have raised in the region of £125,000, and its still rising.  This is the most a Kilimanjaro trek group has ever raised.  No one can quite believe it.  How could such a small amount of people have raised so much? This is an incredible amount and this charity is so close to all of our hearts; David’s announcement sets the tears off again as what we have achieved, not only on the mountain, but for Marie Curie sinks in.

David and Susan then hand out medals and certificates to all of the members of our team who reached a summit.  Not forgetting those that fell victim to the altitude, certificates and medals were also presented for their own individual achievements.  Including Kelvin for the best retrieval of sunglasses.

We are then joined by Moses and some of our guides – all suited and booted.  Moses is happy to sign all of our certificates as the Head Guide and it’s great that they have been able to join us on the last night of our adventure as they have played such a big part in it.

The Serious Fox Team have an announcement to make and step up to the front.  United in their green polo shirts (yes we know, chosen by Foxy and never will be he allowed to choose them again) they announce their new name – Team Tampon, and then proceed to demonstrate why.

The Serious Fox / Tampon Team

A few more speeches followed, all equally as emotional as the last.  As difficult as it was to convey the feeling of summit night, it’s equally difficult to convey the feeling of tonight.  Are we all glad it’s over?  Yes.  But at the same time we don’t want it to end.  We’ll all miss the feeling of camaraderie, we’ll miss shouting for the Nido, we’ll miss bed sliding and bed tea, we won’t miss the long drops; but most of all we’ll miss each other; friendships that were made in the blink of an eye but that will hopefully last a lifetime. Our new friends who we have shared so much with; laughter, tears, excitement, apprehension, nerves, pain and elation; our Kili Rafiki.