It stopped raining sometime during the night and everything was drying out in the morning.  We were up at 6, packed up and breakfast at 7.  We all felt great and decided to do tips a bit differently than usual.  Normally, all the tip money is put in a pot and then divided according to duty performed.  If additional service is provided, then someone might get a bit extra.  Instead, we each put in the pot the suggested amount or a bit more depending on the individual client.  It was decided that this would be divided exactly as specified by the tour operator.  But for us, this was not all the tip money.  We decided that if we were particularly happy with a service provided, then an additional tip would be given personally.

 

Each porter, cook and guide was called out individually and went down the line, getting his general tip and then possibly additional tips.  I think this was a much more personal way of saying thank you.  We forgot to give the cook his extra tip and he had already left.  Money was collected and someone caught up with him to give him his just reward.

 

After the tips, the support group seemed very happy and sang us two songs, which were very uplifting and emotional.

 

We grabbed our daypacks and began the all downhill trek from Mweka Camp 3100m (10170ft) to Mweka Gate 1480m (4856ft).   I was very happy to get out of that camp and took off very fast.  I was almost keeping up with the porters, who were basically running.  This is supposed to be a 3-5 hour hike, and I think I did it in under 2.5 hours.  We had climbed about 4420m (14500ft) up and down the mountain inside Kilimanjaro reserve, though down took much less time.  I believe Bruno Brunad set the record in climbing Kilimanjaro in under 6 hours going up the Mweka route, but he was pre-acclimatized and had support in camps.  The time it took him to get up the mountain is approximately the same as it took us to get down from Barafu Camp to Mweka Gate.  

 

At Mweka Gate there are many people selling t-shirts, artwork and other assorted stuff.  I bought 3 t-shirts, 2 for me one for Margie.  We signed the logbook and summit book at the ranger station and headed down to Mweka Village for lunch and to catch our bus.  The trail was wide and Charlotte and Tim led, followed by Marek, Mark and Peter, I was behind being bombarded by the merchants.  I could not get around to get away from them and it became straight out pestering.  Lunch was hamburger in a huge bun with lots of other bread substances.  Outside, the merchants were holding up t-shirts and carvings for me to see while we ate.  When we went out next to the bus, I was again bombarded.  At this point I cannot even remember what t-shirts I had bought.  We boarded the bus to somewhat escape and they started the engine and turned on the air conditioning.  The merchants continued to hold up t-shirts, so I made a game.  They would hold up a t-shirt, I would rummage in my pack and hold up the identical t-shirt.  Apparently there are only 3 designs in various t-shirt colors, I had one of each.  After a while they smiled, waved and left me be.

 

We went back to the guesthouse but had to stop along the way for the Poles to get some hard liquor.  We all took much needed and desperately wanted showers.  We celebrated at the guesthouse, the Poles made me a strong drink (they thought it was weak) but added some more coke for me.  We went in to be presented with our certificates by the guides and shared a few beers with them.  Still feeling badly I had one beer and a bunch of juices.  The drinking went through dinner and after.  At some point I retired to pack up all my drying gear and put my essentials for Zanzibar in my carry on pack.  The celebration continued loudly outside my door, but only went until around 11pm.  I love these guys, my only wish was that I had felt better to join them.