We arrive at the Nile and board the boat. The river is dotted with foam from Murchison Falls. We are several miles downstream from the falls and that is our destination.
Along the way, we see LOTS of hippos. They are a very aggressive animal so we keep a respectable distance.
We catch the occasional croc sliding into the water.
We see lots of Kingfishers along the river and pass several breeding grounds. They are very efficient hunters and they dive bomb the water with regularity. It is amazing that they can see anything because the water is very murky.
This is an African Fish Eagle
The river is home to many species of birds. Notice the fish in the beak of this bird.
We approach the base of the falls and can see that the river bank is covered with crocs. Our guide explains that anything that comes over the falls is dead or very weak – easy feeding and the crocs know it. They are enjoying the sun. Quite a few have their mouths open. The guide explains that is how they regulate their body temperature.
As we pass the point, we enter the channel and immediately feel the current from the falls. Our guide takes us to a rock outcropping in the middle of the channel. He maneuvers the boat so that we can get out on the rocks and take pictures – very cool.
The river banks are abundant with wildlife.
We head back down river to meet the bus. We are about 30 minutes ahead of the scheduled ferry crossing so we relax. Luke and Mike start a collection of lizards which keeps everyone amused as we watch them trying to corral the lizards. They are very elusive but they manage to capture 3 or 4 through teamwork and perseverance. The bus soon arrives and we start the long journey back to Kampala. No one is looking forward to seven hours in the bus.
The ride back is the usual adventure we have become accustomed to that is the trademark of driving in Uganda. As we enter the outskirts of Kampala, traffic is worse than usual. It is Saturday night and it looks like all 2 million people are out on the street. A boda-boda pulls out in front of us and clips the front bumper of the ROSA. The passenger gets grazed by the front left mirror. Fred avoids both the passenger and driver. They are fortunate that we were not going very fast.
What we witness next is unique (to us). It is a Ugandan traffic court in action. A crowd of people gathers quickly. The driver of the boda-boda is very upset that his taillight is broken. Apparently fault in accidents is decided by the by-standers in Uganda. In this case, the people tell the boda-boda driver that this accident was his fault and that we have no responsibility. A man from the crowd waves at us and says ‘ Bye-Bye Mzungus, time for you to go’.
What happened next was kind of a blur. We continued down the road for several miles when a car pulled out in front of us, we avoided the car but in doing so, we did not see a fresh speed bump (made of the same dirt that the road was). We hit the speed bump to fast and everyone was thrown in the air.
Unfortunately, Kaitlin was in the back seat. Three things worked against her. One, she is 6 foot tall, two, the back seat has a low ceiling because of the air-conditioning unit and three, the force of the speed bump is greatest in the back of the bus. She hit her head and compressed her vertebrae. The force of the blow put her into shock.
Debbie was the first to realize that Kaitlin was hurt. Michelle and Renata both used their medical training to help Kaitlin. We are all stunned and not sure what to do. There is no 911 in Kampala. We stop near a shop and call the main hospital in Kampala. They send an ambulance but trying to get them to find us will be like looking for a needle in a haystack. We tell them that we will meet them at one of the major intersections leading to the hospital. We are driving VERY slowly to try and minimize the bumps.
Fred is extremely upset but we try to assure him that this is not his fault. We need him to concentrate on driving.We hear the ambulance in the distance and soon they arrive. There is no way for them to get Kaitlin off the bus – no neck brace, no back board – none of the essentials that we would expect in America. It is decided that the best course of action is for us to follow the ambulance.
It is dark now and we arrive at the hospital. We locate a doctor and they have to search for a cervical collar and back board. The only way to get Kaitlin off the bus is through the window. Once the collar is in place, we get Kaitlin on the backboard and out the window.Renata, Michelle and Gene stay behind with Kaitlin. The rest of us board the bus and head back to the house.
Herb and Ellen Cook live in Kampala. We have contacted them to help with paperwork and transportation. They pick Gene up at the hospital and bring him back to the house. They need the insurance papers and some essentials for Kaitlin. We get some chapatti (Ugandan flat bread) into a baggy for Kaitlin and give them to Gene. They are Kaitlin’s favorite food. I LOVE CHAPATTI is the phrase heard every meal from Kaitlin.
Kaitlin - in good spirits (she must have gotten the chapatti)
It is the end to a very long day – one that has had a roller coaster of emotions. We decide to scratch the trip to Namyoya for church – our concern for Kaitlin outweighs the desire to spend more time with our friends. We are very concerned for two of our friends – Kaitlin and Fred. Fred is disconsolate about Kaitlin and no matter what we say to him, you can tell that it has little effect. They are both in our prayers that night.
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