Doc Martin 75th Birthday Kilimanjaro Expedition Dispatch
June 16, 2012 – A Celebration at 13,000 Feet
On Friday we settled down for our second night at 13,000 feet, with the massive Breach Wall of Kilimanjaro towering above us. This climb is to celebrate Dr. Charles Martins, 75th year. It is a great blessing to have his three daughters share the challenge with him.
The peace and majesty of the African landscape is always with us. We will stay at this camp, Barranco, for three nights, making sure that we are well acclimatized before we move on. What a place to stay!
In the late afternoon, the big tent was getting set up for a party.
Elizabeth and Holly, friends since 3rd grade, talk about “glamor camping” and they called themselves “glampers”. They always look great on the mountain!
We have lots to celebrate on this trip, but Charles Martin’s 75th birthday and his 5th climb of Kilimanjaro is at the top of the list.
As the team showed up for dinner, John Denver was on the speaker IPod. On his first Kilimanjaro climb Wally had impatiently told Doc to turn “Rocky Mountain High” off at this very same camp.
Later, when Neil Diamond started, the girls began singing along to “Sweet Caroline”.
Then the cake came.
Doc being presented his cake.
Then more singing. This time the staff was singing resonant, happy folks songs of the Kilimanjaro region, as well as “Happy Birthday to You”.
Doc acknowledged the people of Tanzania and Kilimanjaro, who he has loved for years.
Time for some champagne!
Elizabeth poured for the table.
More of the happy, spiritual songs of the staff kept the evening going.
John and Arnold joining in
Valentine and Rita have only known one another for four years, but they seem like sisters.
It was a late night due to the celebration. We left the tent and went to bed at 7:30 pm! Tomorrow, we will hike towards the Lava Tower, to continue our acclimatization. It is a great feeling to know that it is still so early on our climb. We have a great team, we are having fun and the mountain and the people of Tanzania are giving us rich gifts every day. The beauty and the spirit are overwhelming.