Every journey changes a person. Sometimes it is from the
inside out and the outside in. There is this poster in my office window right
there at the top where I can see it that says “challenge yourself to succeed” I
succeeded . It’s been a week already. My various body parts have been aching
from climbing a vertical hill vertically in the name of finding out about the
path before I bring today’s clients here. The stinging nettle has lived up to
its name and the stinging feeling has not left me for the last one week. And i
found out my guide was the best thing this side of the Gakanga.
My resolve is strengthened. I am going back, and this time I
have company. The six of us plus my guide. I like this guy. From afar you may
judge him by the way he looks and the fact that he is not your everyday ranger.
Rough as any villager I have ever met, but a guy with the ability to make
anything routine into an adventure including the choice of routes we have
picked. His name is Mesha..its a nickname really.
I have previously before the journey texted my clients and banned
them from wearing any shorts or inappropriate clothing…am not spoiler so don’t blame
me for sounding like I was spoiling anyone’s sense of feeling ‘hot’ whether it’s
the boyfriend girlfriend thingy or the lack of it…and have assured them that a
comfortable hiking shoe is the only way to go. Come D-day, it finds me cursing
under my breath. Let me elaborate a little on the kind of clothing am looking
at, a leather riding jacket and jeans , jeans and a high open shoe and a church
dress and in fashion shoes. Only three of us are dressed for the occasion including
the guide….but do I say… Before you object to my outright description I have a
signed copy allowing me to say such things as they found it rather funny
afterwards and I kindly asked for their permission. I find it courteous to ask including
if I may take photos. Some of us are camera shy and I would like everyone
reading this to know I respect their wishes and keep your privacy.
Okay so I have a combination of people…fine by me. I will
learn a lot from this experience; seriously I am trying not giggle loudly at
the outright disobedience to my very informative text of the do’s and don’ts
for this particular terrain.
Down the hill it is but not before acquiring a ‘third leg’
for everyone. It may look like a foolish idea to someone who does not know exactly
how this can be a life saver in a mountainous region. Our path is an easy slide
all the way to the bottom in some places. Reminds me of my childhood when we
would get into tanks, tires, cartons , buckets etc get to the top of a hill and
race all the way to the bottom. I dare say I love this… sitting on my behind
and having that carefree childshish feeling again all the way to the bottom.. I
don’t trust myself to do a moon walk facing downward on a hill and I certainly
will claim a small victory as I am not alone in this. I also don’t intend to tumble in an
unfashionable manner in front of my son. I am a mother as well as a guide. Somewhere
along the line I have to balance the scales.
Oh wow this place is beautiful. I like the reaction of the
people the first time they see and imagine where we are going. Its beautiful even
from afar. Wait until we get near the first quarter of our journey, so I will
spare you the irrelevant details and get right to the juicy part.
The bridge
I used to have phobias of anything wooden across a moving
body of water. And we are staring at one right in front of us. To get to where
we are going courage has to be unbanked from hidden chambers within us that we
did not know even existed. I have been down this road before so I am past the
fear and merely having fun at the expense of everyone else. I cross that bridge
quickly and set my camera on go. First two across I will not mention but it is
the pure fear in the last lot that really does it for me. It is too much for
the two lady’s – open fashionable shoes and the church dressed lady. I have
been there before I know the feeling of crossing logs in the middle of rivers.
I am still not that brave but lets me give the girls some points here. It creates
a minute of romance that we only read in novels where your prince charming
holds your hand and helps you cross over to the other side. Forgive me for
wishing I would have my husband with me I would probably pull a fast one on
him. But it’s my boy you are talking about and I have to be strong and brave
and mom.
The river is beautiful. I never get enough of how the two
rivers meet and how the dirty one is overcome by the clean one. There is a life
lesson in here somewhere about….okay let’s cut to the chase. We are getting
into stinging nettle territory. I wonder how my ladies will fare. Let’s see…..
The water fall
The way to there is thankfully looking better than the last
time I was there. I am suspecting our guide is up to some good business in
making ordinary into extra ordinary. He is a good guy (smiles). Oh I am very
afraid for my crew but they are happy for the experience. Someone pray with me
right here. Its stinging nettle am afraid of for everyone who is not dressed in
the right attire, but let’s see how they do.
The road here is indeed less travelled. At some point you
have to see a mountain goat to understand exactly how we were moving. The path
is getting watery the nearer we get to the waterfall. I am hearing at this
point the comments I have been looking for. Let me mention the one that touched
me the most…’Oh this is the best thing ever, and imagine it’s been near me all
along”. I am feeling good. Okay at some point there is a slight scream and I have
to confess that was me. I had not seen the hole in the path and after walking
like a goat for a while my feet were not expecting to level out suddenly and
the only thing I could hang on to was a stinging nettle…. The other one behind
me is coming along nicely with the help of the boyfriend minus the shoes and
the others before me are moving along nicely with only a few ouches…oooohs , ahs…nkts
and then finally we are here.
I told you there was a surprise for us. We are actually
under the Zaina waterfalls. C’mon this is way too cool. Too cool ….the spray is
beating us down and only one of us has a rain coat. Unfortunately no one is
willing to risk their cameras for the sake of a photo so I will say it was a
private moment. We all loved it. The water in our faces, our backs …the exhilaration
of just being there. Oh yeah (how do you write this expression?) We are so wet …to
the inner wearables. I can see the joy in their expressions. I wanted to see
this. Its part of my small victories. The joy that one derives from discovering
something new. Finding within themselves the ability to not give up.
At this point I have to end the first half of our journey
and let us dry out relaxed in the sun. At least we will dry but our shoes have
to wait until we get home. When we next meet in the pages of my many stories we
will hear the tales of brave men and women and a man-child who went up a hill
and not just any ordinary hill.
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