Truck life in Africa

Well, if you have not spent four months on a truck with 20 other strangers, you have not lived. We met in Cairo and went over our schedule. When we got to the part of nine days bush camping, Katie, just kept repeating: 9 days no shower! Yup, 9 days. In fact, it was true. I did learn about wet wipes, big packages of them. And, a big plastic cup to have a wash in. One can adapt to most anything.
The truck had a refrigerator, charger for IPod's and such, library, cubby for personal items for the day-kind of like a day pack for trucking, boot bag to hold them for the day so we did not have to wear them all the time. Cooler for soft drinks on the honor system, and of course a bar in another cooler. Glad I was not in charge of that one, I watched and people could not remember that they took all those beers.
We were supposed to move seats so all had the same chance for the favored seats. Seems that the front ones are favored, I did not find them so good. There was a big header between the cab and the seated area which impaired the view. After all, it is the view why I was there. The truck used to be a cement truck and was separate from each other, moved in different directions when bumpy roads came up. We could move into the cab, if one was a bit flexible. Then one could ride 'shotgun', Helena was the name of the truck, she had a right hand drive and we drove on the left in Africa, so, shotgun was very exciting. Got used to it eventually.
Getting up into the truck. Had to heft myself up a high first step, using both hands on handles. I got stronger as we went along. Before getting in, we sprayed our hands with Detol to prevent spreading germs. Somehow, it did not work at the start of the trip. Soon, out of Cairo in the White Desert I got the runs, full on with cramps and an immediate "stop!" to the drivers. This is a rule, when a person needs to stop, they do at the first possible place, fortunately, we were in the desert and could stop anywhere. Was not sick until Nairobi, and that was to be my five days holiday from this holiday. Missed that one.
Camping: my new talent. We camped in desert, the heat and humidity and in the freezing mountains. Having to get out of this tent is a hassle in the night. No en suite going on there. From Nairobi on I had my own tent, lent to me by one of the girls that finished there. What a treat. I was sharing with Annie for the first part, then she lost the plot and I was given a tent by one of the lads and he shared with another. Bless them.
The dancing I have seen thru the whole of Africa. In Bahariya, Egypt we were treated to a young man that could move his bum up and down at will while dancing, the up on his toes, swaying his hips and lowering himself to the floor and up. what control. In Ethiopia it was the ladies moving the shoulders forward and back, fast. Annie I followed some music and there was a pre wedding celebration and we were invited in. Dance we did. Even Annie. In a circle with the elders being the best. Further south the dancing was more like bouncing the huge necklaces up and down. The Masai area was the jumpers. The jump part comes from being able to throw a spear further. Of course.
Dust pan was a cardboard box with a piece of box as the broom.
Many flavors of chips available: chili-lime, chili, cheese, shrimp. The favorite ones were not available in the next country, would have to start again. I must have drunk my life's supply of soft drinks. It was the only thing cold. One day I got a fruity one that turned out to have alcohol in it. I panicked and drank lots of water from the tap. TG that was OK. My companions did not know I was an alcoholic so said, it is only 4%. 4% too much for me. All passed well. Will check everything, it looked so inviting, and was cold.
If you ever wondered why the classic photo of Africa is so colorful, it is the dust. It is everywhere, I wore my scarf over my face like the desert people of all time. It works.
At Christmas the truck was decorated with tinsel and shiny balls, what a sight we were then.
My hands have never been so the dirty, at mealtimes, I looked them and thought, ugh. They had been disinfected, but, still. My penchant for wearing lipstick wearing lipstick went out the window. I could count on one hand the times I wore it, Christmas for sure. I did use two tubes of lip balm. Make up? Not.
Amazing experience, could not have done it on my own.