Notes from Lesotho - Day 2

Day 2

We woke up early to a symphony of birds and insects, refreshed! Breakfast was quite civilized compared to what we’re in for: cereal and toast with peanut butter, plus coffee.

Mum and Dean headed down the hill to scope out the wood for stilts, mainly to ensure that it is sturdy enough and not too knotty. Check! Stew slept in and I packed for Bokoko (that is, unpacked, as it’s a three hour hike up the mountain so we’re traveling light). The truck we ordered hasn’t arrived but we’re on TIA (This Is Africa) time, so we’re stringing clown noses and teaching our helper to spin plates while we wait.

Today’s plan is to load the truck with all the Bokoko school reno materials (12 school benches, blackboards, paint, windows, cement and tar for the roof), some circus stuff for a wee show and our backpacks. We’ll ride as far as the roads allow (in the truck bed I may add) then hike and haul the gack on donkeys. Turns out the truck will make two trips as the bed is too small for all the benches, stuff and people in one go. The drive, I am told, is about 3.5 hours. Yikes.

We’ll be housed and fed by the locals while we work on the school. We’re not too sure what that actually means, so I’ll report on those details in later days.

It is sunny and hot; such a contrast to the weather we left. It’s dry though – rain is badly needed for the veggie gardens and water catchers.