Not like turning on a tap...

Julia and Steve went up the hill
To help the kids fetch water,
Jerry cans ready, they went up steady
Took twice as long as they oughta.

The kids ran down like mountain goats
Their bare feet strong and gripping,
With cans full now, they climbed, somehow,
Legs aching - sweat a-dripping!

We went down the treacherous path to the spring after it had had 2 days to dry out. Otherwise, we were told, it would be just too slippery for us. I wouldn't argue with that! Nor with the fact that they said 10 litres would be too heavy for me - I took the photos instead! The smallest child, who was eight, carried 5 litres, Steve managed 10 litres, (just) and Edmond who is 17 can carry 30 litres. The kids can make the journey up to ten times a day if they have to. Well... it's healthier than X-Box!

Day by day...

Lugging a bag of plimsolls
Was heavy and hot in the heat,
But the kids were everso happy
To have something to put on their feet!

Our last trip down and across the lake to the resort that has WiFi ended up an all day affair due to the afternoon thunderstorm coming early. Like the goats, we had to wait it out before leaving to cross the lake, and sheltering at every available spot...

We have had a couple more trips to Kabale to buy more materials as you can never get everything in one go. The same delivery truck got stuck in the mud AGAIN, and another one broke down just as we left town!
At least you can buy some nice, tasty pineapples in town for about 20p each!

We've been making the base for the water tank - constantly hunting down tools and suitable parts, and I've spent a couple of afternoons with the kids in school, working with the educational posters we brought. The children are like little sponges - extremely eager to soak up any new information and improve their English.
Then we all went outside, as the children were eager to show us some songs and dances to the beat of their drum. Afterwards they tried on the various sizes of shoes we'd brought, most of which fitted, but a few of the tiniest feet became the centre of some hilarity as they will have to wait a few years before they fit. However, they insisted on keeping them on!

Of the many people we encounter traversing the lake, today we saw these local women who had just arrived in a dugout canoe, and were preparing to climb the steep hill to sell or swap their bamboo baskets. These baskets are very strong with a concave base so they can be balanced easily on their heads.

Work Begins...

Imagine the things we could do
If we could buy a few tools and a screw.
Simple things that we need
Prove tricky indeed,
To buy them, and transport them too!

 If you've read the update on our GoFundMe site you will understand why connecting mains water is prohibitive, and the logistics of pumping water from the lake up to the village is costly and impractical.
Therefore Steve "The Engineer" and Julia AKA "Rodney the Labourer" have embarked upon a programme fitting gutters and storage tanks.

Having witnessed a couple of heavy thunderstorms, we realise that it is more difficult for the villagers to collect water during the rainy season as the steep, mud paths become treacherous. It was hard enough for us to negotiate the slippery mud and loose stone - we cannot imagine what it must be like with 25 litre jerry cans on our heads!

To us, the idea of fitting a bit of guttering to a roof is a simple and fundamental part of building a house. You just nip down to Screwfix and buy everything you need. Here, it is not so simple...

The general rule is...if you want it, you gotta make it! Like our homemade spirit level which isn't very accurate.
You cannot buy screws so we have to use nails (Steve's pet hate as they don't afford mistakes easily), the building isn't straight and the angles are deceiving.
Everything has to be bought from Kabale, the nearest town - a boat trip and 10km dirt track away, then transported back the long way round to the top of the hill, and carried down to the village by hand. Or on top of heads.
One trip back resulted in the truck narrowly missing skidding off the edge, and it was all hands to the pump to push it out.

Progress is slow, but at least we're making some!
 

Arrival

3 flights, 2 taxis, a bus and a boat
We arrive after 30 long hours,
And hike to our hut at the top of the hill
Just ahead of the afternoon showers!

Although the journey here was long and tiring, it all went relatively smoothly. There was enough leg-room on all the flights for Steve's extra long pins; we managed to sweet-talk the customs lady OUT of taxing us for the 40 pairs of plimsolls we were carrying; we bartered a good price for the airport taxi at 4 am to take us the 45km to Kampala, AND help get us tickets for the 8 hour bus ride to Kabale - the nearest town, (which after waiting 2 hours for it to fill was actually 10 hours). There were no traffic accidents end route and the bus dropped bus right outside the hotel, all bags still in tow!

After a leisurely start the next morning we took a 30 minute taxi to the "landing point" at Lake Bunyonyi, where we were met by Stephen from the village who accompanied us across the lake.

We met Edison on the other side, who greeted us like long lost friends, even though we'd only met him for a few hours, 18 months before. Between us all we carried all our bags up the long, steep hill.

The new shoes we brought as a gift for Edison fit him very well!
The village is a proper community, and everybody helps each other. They have all been working hard to get our hut finished, with the last of the preparations finished the morning we arrived. It is very comfortable, with two beds and mosquito nets. The villagers are aware we are coming to stay and help out, and they bring gifts of eggs, beans, potatoes, and passion fruit to our hut, carrying them on baskets on their heads.

Gerard is the cook, and prepares delicious meals, cooking everything over an open fire in a hut similar to ours. There is no electricity or running water, and we feel a little like pioneers being the very first Mzungu (foreigners) to ever stay here! We have a solar panel and light in our hut. Edison is eager to finish the other two huts so he can encourage more visitors/volunteers to come and stay.

The children come by slowly, to look at the strange people staying in their village. Some are very shy, some not at all. They are still on Christmas holiday until 22nd so we shall meet them all properly then.

We have bought a local chip to have internet, but it won't work, so today we have travelled to a posh resort with Stephen, but the electricity keeps cutting out so it has taken all afternoon to write this!
Please be patient - this story will unfold at the African pace of life - very slowly!

Part 2 - Uganda

Parked in our van at the edge of Tarifa
Enjoying a little rest,
Looking across at the African continent
Cause that's where we're headed next!

 
Today we leave for Uganda. Because the purpose of the bike trip was to raise money for the orphanage at Lake Bunyonyi. We are going by plane, not van. Nor bikes. Although this part will probably be harder than the cycle - certainly emotionally. And maybe physically, as we have 40 pairs of plimsolls, plus our rucksacks and bags to lug around for the next few days on planes, buses and boats before we even get there!

And why, are you wondering, are there 2 vans in the picture? Well, our dear friend Dizzy, the owner of the other van will be joining us in a few weeks time at the orphanage. Now though I think he's still parked up on the edge of Europe...

The airport has moved on in the 18 months since we last flew to Africa. Its all self check-ins, self-baggage labelling, self-questioning and self-service. I'm sure when you know what you're doing (i.e. if it was your JOB) it would all be very easy. Us, we're a little bit stressed... Would rather have gone on the bikes...

So, we will try to "blog" when we can - not very sure about the lay of the land until we arrive - but for now remember the airport logo:
"If you want something done - do it yourself!"