Up at six (side-effect of going to bed at nine). Had my first hot shower since Beira, ate breakfast at the lodge, and packed my gear - the first time my backpack has really been used as a backpack since last November (when I joined Dean). Left as much stuff as possible in the car since They'll be getting to Harare early next week - no need to rush this heavy pack thing.
Walked into the village and got immediately on a bus bound for Mutare. The bus ride was a boring three hours and the combination of bad road and worse suspension meant I couldn't read or write. In Mutare I caught an Omni-Bus (shared taxi) to near the train station. Walking to the train station I took a wrong turn and found a bus for Harare. I found the train, found out that the only train was the overnighter, leaving at nine and arriving in Harare at six. The train didn't seem that attractive anymore so I went back to where I'd seen the bus, got there just as it was leaving, and scored one of the last two seats. The bus ride was pretty unremarkable except we listened to the same Dolly Parton tape three times through. Four hours later - Harare (beats nine sleepless hours on a train, though my knees are reminding me of why I hate busses).
Ended up walking to the hostel I'd been recommended - ended up taking an hour to get to the right area, and another hour to actually find it (my map is dreadfully wrong). Between yesterdays hiking fiasco and carrying a pack for the first time in seven months my body is hurting (couldn't have anything to do with my age). Got to the hostel right as it was getting dark. I was hoping to find Claudia here (this is where most people go), but she must have gone to a different hostel. I looked around the hostel, decided against TV, wrote a bit, took a shower and was in bed by eight!
