Gratitude in Every Step and Smile: From Sunrise to Summit

 Saturday is for Hiking… Chakam!

There’s a saying I’ve heard: “The top of one mountain is the beginning of the next.” It challenges both body and mind and I felt the truth of it this past Saturday. Maybe you did too… or maybe not. Perception is personal, chakam it! (Yes, that’s the latest trending phrase everyone’s saying it!)

Morning Madness Begins

By 3:30 a.m., my royal alarm Her Highness, Moori was wide awake, ready to eat and be cuddled. Ah, the joys of being a cat mom! Honestly, I was hungry too, so at 4:00 a.m., I found myself in the kitchen whipping up some rice with palm oil. Hunger is truly the root of creativity. What hunger cannot cause doesn’t exist!

I watered my plants, fed Moori, and reached out to my hiking crew Musa, now a regular on the trail, and Beca, who was making her comeback. We hopped on bikes (shoutout to car-less warriors!), headed to our junction, and then made our way to Katampe Extension to our second meeting point. I even had to call Sir Jossie for directions thank you, kind sir!

The Hike Begins

By 7:35 a.m., we met up with other hikers, all smiles and sweet scents. Beca gave Hercule a birthday hug Happy Birthday, my G! May greatness find you soon. We exchanged greetings with Epa and his crew, Mr. Emmirine the vibrant elder, my ever-troublesome friend Anthony, Boyante the mountain goat (yes, that’s his trail name), and many more.

A moment with  Angel Zee our house mate leader on Instagram I congratulated her on hitting 50K followers, and someone wished her a million by this year end. She modestly waved it off, but I reminded her nothing is impossible when the Almighty is involved. She smiled and agreed.

Trekking, Talking, and Cow Poo

Shoelaces tied, water bottles distributed, and tickets checked we began. I hiked alongside Peruzzi and a few others, setting the pace. Sir Jossie exchanged pleasantries with a fellow hiker who mentioned he missed Aso rock hiked but had another different kind of training recently 15km trek with a 25kg backpack in 2 hours whew! Not for the faint-hearted!

As we walked, we had to be careful not to step on human excrement (yes, not just the cow kind sigh). Soon, we reached a short but steep climb that tested everyone’s lungs. If your eating habits are bad, the mountain will reveal you! There was no official resting point, so we kept moving. Even mountain goat Boyante had hands on hips, and Lizzy wasn’t herself either.

Some hikers sped ahead and got lost briefly (lesson: stay with the group!). I nearly took the wrong path, but Peruzzi corrected me bless you, man. The summit welcomed us with a beautiful view… and plenty of cow poop. So we extended the hike to a cleaner, more scenic peak. The weather was cool and calm, with a little drizzle at the start perfect hiking vibes.

Fun, Fitness, and Fire Conversations

At the peak, everyone found a spot to chill. Some lounged, others pushed their limits. “Monster” led a fun aerobics session, and then came the squatting challenge! He squatted a guy weighing 150kg. That guy picked up Sammie (less than 70kg), and another participant refusing to be outdone picked up a small boy. Hilarious!

Anthony and a fellow hiker started a plank challenge. I was filming but joined in. Anthony tapped out at 3 minutes, and I continued with the other guy till 7 minutes! My known max is 4 minutes, but that day? I almost beat it. A new champ aimed for 8 minutes Godspeed!

I interviewed a few hikers about why they love hiking (videos are on Instagram go watch and comment!). Mr. Solomon, our amazing photographer, captured smiles all day, and Angel Zee caught some great moments too.

Chit-Chats That Matter

I had a heart-to-heart with someone about leadership and selflessness how some people think only of themselves, forgetting that real leaders consider others. Words on marble, truly.

Then I met Vivian always glowing, always smiling. We were twinning in white tops, taking cute photos like the trail-setters we are!

Another deep chat with a hiker centered on love. She said, “Love shouldn’t hurt.” If you’re only in someone’s life for cookies (you know what I mean), don’t say you love them. Too many people carry heartbreak and spread pain instead of healing. Love, real love, is a verb. It’s in the doing.

The Descent + Bread Bonus

Time to descend though some of us weren’t ready. Blazzier kept interrupting my video, but I’ve forgiven him (growth!). We took a different, more challenging route down. Some people slipped it’s normal. I held Beca, and Sammie helped a few others, encouraging them to lock elbows for support.

Back at the base, everyone regrouped, helped each other with rides, and then... the post-hike cravings kicked in.

Boma Park Banter

Instead of heading home, nine of us went to Boma Park for coconut bread thanks to Hercule's birthday blues and lack of girlfriend (no judgment!). The bread was soft, the gist was juicy, and the laughter? Unstoppable. What happened in Boma Park… stays in Boma Park.

Just when we thought the day was done, the founder’s car had a flat tire. We waited, helped, and got home safe. Thank you for the ride!

Back home, Her Royal Highness Moori pounced on me. After feeding her, I washed my hiking gear, folded a few clothes, and finally got to rest.

Final Thoughts

Today’s hike was full of lessons, laughter, and love. It reminded me why I love showing up for nature, for people, and for myself.

Gratitude Highlights 

1. Grateful for the joy of hiking – the freedom to explore nature, challenge my body, and clear my mind.

2. Thankful for early morning moments with Moori – her cuddles and presence remind me of love and responsibility.

3. Grateful for simple meals that save the day – rice and red oil at 4 a.m. never tasted better!

4. Thankful for the hiking crew  old friends and new faces whose energy, kindness, and conversations lifted my spirit.

5. Grateful for laughter and shared challenges – push-ups, squats, planks, and the playful energy that brought us closer.

6. Thankful for deep conversations – about love, leadership, and the importance of being thoughtful and healing from past hurt.

7. Grateful for Boma Park moments – coconut bread, gist, and friendship that warmed our hearts after the hike.

Thankful for safe returns and a warm welcome home despite flat tirtyresd tired legs, Moori’s excitement made it all worth it.

Have a great week ahead, everyone.

Peace,

Your trail-loving, coconut bread-eating, plant-watering gratitude girl

Photos credit goes to our amazing Dabelle_2018.