On Our Way to Mvuu Camp (by Todd Ferguson)

Leaving Blantyre on our way to Mvuu Camp. Departed nearly on time, 7 am. with a fully packed bus, including Chuck R. big red bag.

Today's recipients include Zomba Central Hospital (54 chairs), Zomba MAP Clinic (74 chairs), and Saint Luke's Hospital (30 chairs) for a total of 158 chairs.

The first stop of the day was for breakfast on top of Mulanje Mountain (6000 feet) at Le Meridien Ku Chawe, with a view of the Zomba plateau. Monkeys joined us for breakfast, snapping any unattended portions.

After breakfast we went down the mountain road to the Zomba District Hospital where we unloaded and assembled the chairs for the day's recipients. It proved to be challenging working between mud puddles and generous assistance from the local people. They were grateful and gracious for the gifts, including plastic and cardboard.

We finished our delivery at 12 noon. We hurried to catch our boat to Mvuu Camp which was scheduled to leave at 11 am. We arrived at 1 pm. and the boat was gone. Sandi and Bill were our designated negotiators. Bill played his Frequent Flyer card and requested a senior's discount. They were able to negotiate a boat to return to pick up 6 of us, and a Land Rover for the remaining 7.

On the boat: Russ, Susan, Chuck R, Larry, Bill and Philippe. In the Land Rover: Chuck D., Jim, Kirk, Alex, Sandi, Dick, and Todd.

The Land Rover only got stuck once on the rutted and mudded bike trail that got us closer to the camp, just a short boat ride away.

We arrived for "lunch" at Mvuu Camp at 4:30 pm. Those riding in the Land Rover only missed the first round of drinks. We are now starting one day and a half of relaxation without wheelchairs in sight.

Mvuu camp is located in the Liwonde National Park on the bank of the Shire River. The park is approximately 600 square kilometers, providing sancturary for Malawi wildlife, including hippos, bush bucks, impalas, crocodiles, monkeys, and tons of birds.