Day 8: Biking Through the Reserve

View from Rwakobo Rock

June 14: I guess the sounds of the wildlife at the Rwakobo Lodge allowed me to fall into a deep sleep, for last night I slept without waking up once (which was a first). I set my alarm for 6:30 a.m. because Lisa, James, and I were going to bike throughout the wildlife reserve. Dressed in my black leggings (girls cannot wear shorts) and cotton t-shirt, I walked to the main lodge, but I did not see anyone. I was positive that we were supposed to meet at 7:00 a.m.; however, my "positive assumption" was wrong, and I found myself with an extra 30 minutes to spare. To scared to make the trek back to my cabin in fear of running into an unexpected visitor (baboon, snake, etc.), I climbed to the top of a big rock and watched the sun rise. The sublime views were calming and soothing, and I (a person who can normally not sit still for more than ten minutes) sat on top of that rock, watching the sun peek over the distant mountains, for the full thirty minutes.

Cow

      When I returned to the lodge, I greeted my biking companions, and was introduced to my bike. So, the bikes in Uganda are a little different than those in the United States: 1. the frames are built for like a 5'4" person, and I am a 5'9" person 2. the brakes are shifted, so that the brake for the front wheel is on the right, and the brake for the back wheel is on the left. Adjusting to these two differences took some time, some back pains, and some falls, but these adaptations made for a beautiful bike ride. We rode on dirt foot paths through cow pastures, and we saw zebra, mongoose, eland, and jackal. I was so fortunate to be able to go on this expedition! The sun was not at its peak for the first part of the ride, and we were pushed along by a nice breeze, and of course, by our pedaling feet.
      By the last hour of the bike ride, the sun had risen quite high, and we were left with all uphill routes to the lodge. Wanting to work off the delicious brownie I had consumed the night before, I made a pact to myself that I would not walk my bike...bad decision. For 95% of the time that we biked up the hills, I was convinced I would pass out or throw up. I moved at like 1 mile an hour on the lowest gear. My feet just moving in thousands of circles, but my bike was moving at caterpillar pace. *I have given up any and all hope that I will become a professional cyclist.* Arriving at the top of the mountain, were Rwakobo Lodge is situated, was one of the best physical feelings in the world. I dropped my bike, took off my helmet (talk about bad hat hair), and ran to my room to shower off.
      After a late lunch, we drove back to Mbarara. The afternoon was pretty low-key: I responded to a couple emails, and I made flyers for Kids' Week. Kids' Week is going to take place next week in the hospital. This is the week when Julio (who is coming on Saturday) and I will be officially starting they psycho-social program. We will  be training the people who have shown interest in sustaining the program. I also packed a couple supplies to take with me to Bugoye, which is where we will be heading tomorrow, and then on Tuesday, we will help in a health clinic.