Final blog

Thank you for reading the blog and for all the encouraging, positive comments that have been made.

Last day of summer school.

Since the last posting we have continued to have a challenging adventurous time, the day after completing summer school we headed off to the Simian Mountains, the views were breathtaking; we met a few Gelada Baboons, saw lots of different species of birds, walked in the pouring rain, sang guide songs round a camp-fire inside the huts, the evening came to a close singing ‘Taps’, slept in cold lodges and enjoyed eating pancakes for breakfast watching the sun rise. 

camp team & us

On Friday 21^st we got up before sunrise, camp was being packed up around us while we enjoyed breakfast, walked to the coach and set off back to Yekit Hotel to pick up our main luggage.  The staff at Yekit greeted us like long lost friends, asking how the trip was, did we enjoy it etc.  The staff looked after us they went the extra mile to make sure our stay was as comfortable as they could make it.

Luggage loaded onto the coach we set off on the 3 hour drive to Bahr Dar, we arrived in the dark and pouring rain, not a good combination, we waited until the rain had stopped to unload the luggage, a light supper and an early night, we were all quite exhausted.

Tisisat Falls were gushing, the rains had increased the volume of brown water flowing over the gorge.

A boat trip to the monasteries, the source of the Blue Nile and Hippo spotting was on the programme for Sunday, we managed to see one lone Hippo as he came up for air, someone managed to get a good photo. We spotted a few papyrus reed boats, made using traditional methods.  The paintings on the church walls were very beautiful and well preserved.

Monday we said goodbye to Elsa, she has been looking after us while on the project, we would have been utterly lost without her advice & guidance.

Tuesday we flew to Addis, checked into the Ras Hotel.  We visited BGIFC (British Guides in Foreign Countries) at the Sandford School, we had a very enjoyable time with them, we taught them new songs and games.

Wednesday we visited the National Museum to see Lucy and had a relaxing time at the Hilton eating cake, ice cream and enjoying the hot spring pools.

The trip has made an impact on all our lives, we have gone through a whole gamut of emotions, we have laughed & cried together, we all have different special memories, one of the very special memories that will stay with me is the joy on the faces of the children every morning when they saw us, as our buses approached the road leading to the school, all the children would be waiting for us and as the buses came to a stop a great big cheer could be heard.

Four year old girls carrying water

 

At the bus stop.

We were doing so well with our luggage, nothing had been lost and the damage to suitcases has been minimal, that was until we got to Manchester on Thursday, my suitcase, was given an extended stay in Istanbul, the lady at the Baggage office said “it is not unusual for Turkish Air” great !!!  I was assured my case would be with me the following day, I was not to be concerned as it had been located.  Friday afternoon I needed to go out and telephoned to enquire as to what time it may arrive, I was given the couriers number, when I called they told me it would not be delivered until Monday, “MONDAY!” I exclaimed, “that is not good enough I want it delivering today”  they can’t do that as the luggage arrived too late yesterday for the overnight collection, and Turkish air will only pay for overnight delivery, I demanded the name & number of someone who can authorise delivery today, my Malarone tablets were in the case.  Eventually I spoke to the right person and my case was delivered at midnight on Friday, took the Malarone and went to bed.

Until our next trip