My Fellow Climbers: Louise, Jonathan, Sean, Brad & Jeet, I am in the black shirt on the right.

 

Precautionary Sign at the Gate of Rongai (Nalemaru) Route


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Starting our Trek

  Jeet, Brad and I traveled by plane to Amsterdam where we met up at the airport.  From there we flew nine hours to Kilimanjaro Airport and arrived in the darkness.  We were able to get a taxi and traveled to Moshi where we found our hotel and met Erastus with Zara Tours, who was very helpful.  Jeet & I went downstairs to the lounge/restaurant where we invited Erastus to sit with us as he ate our dinner and we both drank a soft drink.  It had been a long day, however we were very excited to learn as much as we could about the culture, other people and were too filled with anticipation to just fall asleep.  For my fellow compariates and I, it was our first trip to Africa and we wanted to learn as much as possible.

Standing at the Summit of Kilimanjaro near the edge of the Caldera.

Progress Report

Here it is near the end of February and been working out and getting my miles logged in, today is Sunday and have two days to go yet in this month, however now have 85 miles completed.  Also have started gradually to improve my diet to accelerate my fitness level.  I have a fitness goal in mind as far as body shape, tone and weight, however will not be so bold as to publish that on this blog at this time.  After some considerable reading it is apparent food intake has more to do with body improvement than just exercise.  My goal is to get really lean, so the achievement of this objective is going to take some will-power and will-power and will-power.

Getting into Shape!

I spoke with Ed the week before last and he said we each have to get 750 miles of roadwork in before tackling this challenge.  With the advent of this news and the fact it is frigid in Southern Indiana this winter, I decided to join Anytime Fitness.  Last Saturday was my first day, I put in 5 miles on the treadmill and repeated that 4 more times throughout this week.  I met with the personal trainers and they gave me some tips for my anaerobic exercise to get all my muscles engaged for this adventure.  So now at the end of this week, I now have 725 more miles to go. 

Day 3 in Preparation

Yesterday on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, I jogged two miles at the forestry and at the completion, then walked 2 miles the same course.  Today on Saturday, I walked Bear into the woods and along the road in the forestry and we got another two miles in.  I have started to watch what I eat, have weighed myself and have a target goal to lose 30 pounds.  My objectives are to also increase the size of my chest by an inch and my arms by 1 inch in the pursuit of improving my body.  It is important for me to workout everyday and plan to reinitiate my Power 90 Program this Monday and workout faithfully everyday. 

Thanksgiving Day 2010 "The Beginning"

Hello My Friends,
Today is Thanksgiving Day 2010, it is 3:56 P.M. in the afternoon and I have visited with my family today and of course partaked of my mother's extraordinary meal.  She is truly a real chef in own right, and today is the first Thanksgiving in many years where there seemed not be drama on anyone's part.

Today is the first blog entry to record my preparation for this most exhilirating thrill of which I plan to embark this next July 2011.  Today has been rainy, of which we need moisture desperately in Southern Indiana.  My trip to Kilimanjaro is in honor of my Dad who has throughout my life encouraged me to stretch myself and expand on all my talents.  He taught me how to read, he taught me my states and captials, pointed out all the continents, great oceans and rivers of the world.  He is a remarkable social studies teacher and guidance counselor, all his past students rave how he was always their favorite teacher.  My Dad is a man who cares, a man who loves, and throughout his life like all with mom have struggled to always keep things going especially with five children. My Dad first talked about Mt. Kilimanjaro as the tallest mountain in Africa when I was eight years old, and he like I always enjoyed Tarzan played by Johnny Weismiller and watching Mutual of Omaha's 'Wild Kingdom' with Marlin Perkins.  As I live in my mid-years of this wonderful life, it is time to accelerate the experience of living.  And it is with great pleasure and honor this day to dedicate this experience to him.