Day 23  - 7/8/03  - Thursday

Up around 8:30, still very tired, we walk for 2 hours, and have breakfast at around 11 just below the vegetation line. We walk on and reach the first mountain camp on this route about 12, we sign out here. We walk on, the guides say its about 2 hours... We drop down for 4 hours, we ask how much further, 5-10 minutes comes the reply.... 2 hours later including some running, we arrive at the gate, we sign out again, and collect the certificates. Another 5 minute walk to the bus... So around 40 minutes later we get hassled by local traders, whilst trying to sort out the tips for porters (Alex the head guide claims there's 30, despite the fact we can only ever remember seeing 18 people at one time.... ) We pay the 18... And collapse onto the bus. Getting back to Moshi takes about an hour, we arrive around 8pm. The people who came down early meet us, and thankfully have arranged accommodation for that evening, as we arrived back 2 nights ahead of schedule. I'm in the Newcastle hotel (1*), we all eat at the Kindoroko which does very nice, but very slow food by the time were finished its getting on for 11.. Sleep!