Day 2

We woke up at 7:30 even without the wake-up call that never came. Breakfast was minimalistic but had fried eggs, cereal and pineapple. CNN covered Ostrich racing and there was an update on US drone attacks. We locked stuff in the safe and headed around the corner to the Nile River Explorations Company. We paid our $125 each and proceeded to a second breakfast of flat bread, pineapple, hardboiled eggs and hot tea. We sat out in the yard, rather than on the porch where the videos were showing of past trips.
We met 8 med students who had been working in West Uganda for the last 6 weeks, mostly treating malaria. Their motto: assume malaria.
Juma was the group leader (couldn’t help but think of the bad guy in 24) and prepped us up with several jokes before we got our life jackets and helmets. No shoes allowed.

We loaded up about 20 to a truck and set off for the embarkment point, where we took a picture before leaving everything behind.
We joined the 4 girls from the medical group and Juma himself – both at Bree’s request.
Our expedition group was eclectic. We had a group of guides who came from Nairobi because the water was too low on their river. We had a group of teachers who had come to support a school. There was a guy and a girl who were volunteers at a Dutch orphanage, as well as a Mercy Cops intern from South Dakota.
Two of the girls – Allara and Stephanie – were from Australia. Sarah was from New Jersey – attending Wheaton College. And Ashley from Ireland.
Juma represented Uganda in the 2004 Australian Olympics in kayaking.
After introductory techniques, we were straight into Grade 3 rapids. On the second set, we had our first flip… of several.
Lots of Grade 5 rapids. Lots of fun.
Beautiful along the river – no development and also no crocodiles. The only civilization we saw were people washing clothes and an occasional canoe.
Overtime and the Waterfall were straight after our lunch of pineapple and Glucose cookies.
Swimming felt wonderful.
The temperature of both the water and the air were perfect, with the exception of when it started raining and got a tad chilly.
The Bad One and the Other one – we had to walk around a Grade 6 to get to them. Bree switched boats just to be safe.
Juma was from the village at the end, had been a guide for 9 years. Told us the scoop on rival guide companies and the legends of the boy who got taken by a crocodile, and the long Nile perch.
Wants to get rich, starting a company Juma and Kids.
Sad that the government doesn’t support kayaking.
Also wants to open a chips and burger place.
Believes that many Africans will be very disappointed when Obama Is not able to let all of them move to the US nor make all of their countries like California. Kenyans especially – if you get pulled over by the police, instead of paying a bribe, just say you are related to Obama or his mother.
If they are serious though, pay 10k schillings. If joking, pay 2k. Girl with big booty worth 10 cows. Small = 1 chicken. Save money later on on baby wraps.
When we had arrived, they took us to a base camp for a hot meal of BBQ beef, flat bread, rice, potatoes and guacomle.
Beautiful view of the river. And that was our day on the Nile. The ride back was through lots of villages.
Life seemed simple – revolving around building houses, bricks and straw roofs, growing food, washing clothes, going to school.
V later explained the reliance that everyone places on those who succeed, often holding them back from every escaping the cycle.
We showered and headed to the S's for stew.
Learned a lot about Uganda.
Another great day.
Falling asleep now at 11:00