We left Moshi at around 4pm and took a 30 minute cab ride to the Kibo Hotel in Marangu. This is a stately old place full of mahogany & memories. The concierge, waiters and even the mirriad waiting ‘hands’, speak in hushed tones of the time that Jimmy Carter came to Kibo.

We’re in the foot hills of Kilimanjaro, and as the elevation increases, so too does our anxiety… "How hard is this really going to be?" We watched a freshly returned group of climbers, noting their serious demeanour and when asked to describe their experience they merely answer "hard, it’s all hard."

We had supper in the stately dining hall which is adourned with trophies of successful summits. Signed flags, teashirts and even a crimson bra, all carry the message that it IS possible. So with that hopeful mantra we are off to bed and let’s see what tomorrow brings. TTFN.