The Guide to Climbing Africa's Highest Mountain

When I decided I was going on the trek to the "Roof of Africa" - Mount Kilimanjaro I started to do some research. So I searched Amazon online books for something to read about the adventure.I stumbled across the trailblazers-guide which was, I quote "the most authoritative and detailed guide to climbing Africa's highest mountain" by Henry Stedman

I love ordering books online. It's so easy and efficient. It's like having the World's library at your fingertips.

No queuing, no long treks to the shops, no searching endless shelves in store only to find one's book is not in stock. And not having to look for a busy shop assistant to order the book in store and collect it later.

The only thing I miss about the experience of going to the bookshop is the coffee lounge, the social interaction , the touchy-feely part of browsing the bookshelves, the book signings and of course the people watching.

Well I still occasionally like popping into Border's in Brum (now unfortunately in liquidation), taking in the smell of fresh coffee wafting from the in store Starbucks, and sitting down on the comfy sofa with my hot caramel micchiato,a muffin and my latest purchase.

Well the book finally arrived this week - eight weeks after I placed my order.That's unusual as generally I get the book within a few days.

It is full of facts and figures, maps, useful tips and anecdotes, great pictures, a hell of a lot of advice - this is going to be a riveting read.. I have already given it a quick flick through.. and some pages have certainly raised my eyebrows, and got my mind racing...

I'm beginning to think this trek may not be a doddle..

The Bucket List.......

I talked about going to Kilimanjaro back in June 2009 with friends. Qasim and Dave joked at our Power Circle event that they would be up for it... and I said well if they ever decided to do it , to give me a call..... I did not expect them to ring because often people, in my experience say things but never act on it..... I however meant every word of it.

Well, in September 09 , I got a call from Qasim to say that he had found a group of people who would do it for charity..

"Count me in" I said ... and .. in a blink of an eyelid , I added it to my bucket list...

If you have never seen the film " The Bucket List " I would recommend it to everyone... It is one of my all time best movies, starring Jack Nicolson and Morgan Freeman.




It's about two terminally ill men dieing from cancer who head off on a road trip with a wish list of things to do before they die.. as in doing the things before they " Kick the Bucket ". It is a touching movie.

The women will be in tears , and the men... well the men will be in awe because , well... it's an adventure and you will never have a dream come true if you have no dreams.... we need dreams..

When I saw the movie I burst into laughter because not only was it gut wrenchingly hilarious but it suddenly dawned on me that I had my own bucket list. It was in my mind from around the age of eight... my whole life had been, is, about ticking things off my bucket list ... and boy did I tick a lot off in the last two years..

The funny thing was that I found out that the more things I ticked off , the more I added... but as a result I was having lots more fun and felt more alive than I ever had... I believe one should work hard, play hard.... or if you want live fast , die young.... I don't want to look back on life and regret the things I did not do !!!

Some of the things I can share... others.... well I don't know you well enough... so it will remain a secret...

So , I got my PADI open water diving certificate years ago and went diving in Hawaii , flew a helicopter,went parascending,quad biking. I saw the Whirling Dervishes perform at the Orient Express Station-Istanbul,I got a sports car, I was on the grid finish line when Nigel Mansell won the British Grand Prix, I drove a tank and sat in a Vulcan Bomber,I started to learn Salsa and published a book. I went flying in an Air Display with the Red Arrow Pilots, Did the Gumball, and cruising around the World... well that's enough for now...

So now climbing Kilimanjaro is at the top of my bucket list for this year....

Oh and BTW... you do realise the only reason I am even talking about this stuff is because I am doing this for charity... when this is done... this blog is coming down !! and I get my anonymity back...

Brainstorming

So Monday 25/1/10 rush from work to meet the team at the Lench's trust... get there for 6pm.

It's the second official meeting of the group.... and it's our first meeting in 2010.

We have lost one member already but gained another. We introduce ourselves and get on with it.

We talk about :

Possible other members, one possible prospect decided not to proceed when it became clear how basic accommodation would be... tents & huts all the way...

I confirm I have paid my £150 deposit to the tour company...

We discuss how much we should target to raise for the charity... we decide on £50K down from £70K ... but hey we will go for max ..

Jean-Luc shows us pictures from his last attempt, we briefly discuss clothing, temperatures, oh too much to go into now...

Then we brainstorm money raising ideas ...

Charity auctions
Personal contacts, our businesses
Dinner Parties
Sponsorship
Networking events
organised walks
Car boot sales
Talent shows......

Indi's already raised £1500 from family & friends..

Lots of ideas .............but ... need a few big hitters

Ahhhh...... the journey begins proper..

We finish for 7pm - job done , we disperse , I rush off to my Salsa class..

Team Kilimanjaro

Team Kilimanjaro

Will attempt to climb Africa's highest mountain Kilimanjaro in June 2010.

This snow covered mountain is 19,710 Ft. high.

It's western summit is called "Masai" - " The House of God "

It lies 205 miles south of the equator and stands on Tanzania’s northern border with Kenya.

Kilimajaro is composed of 3 extinct volcanoes -

Kibo (19,710 feet),
Mawenzi (16,896 feet),
Shira (13,000 feet),

supporting 5 major eco-zones: rain forest, heath, moorland, alpine desert and
glaciers.

This is going to be an awesome adventure....