First Base Camp and After 1974.

The first base camp 

outside Bruges 

didn't have the tents we needed 

so we had to occupy 

a small caravan

all nine of us.

We let the females

have the beds 

we males slept on the floor 

in the sleeping bags 

we had brought

until morning.

I woke first and walked 

into the nearest shop 

and bought a bottle of water 

and a small French loaf 

and ate and drank On the way back 

to base camp.

I was sitting in the bar

smoking and drinking a beer 

when some of the others 

came in and took seats 

ordered beers and ate sandwiches.

The driver/guide 

told us the tents had arrived 

so we tied them on top 

of the minibus and climbed 

onboard ourselves 

and set off towards Brussels

and the beginning of our overland tour 

towards our next base camp 

just outside Hamburg 

picking up an American girl 

on the way who squeezed in 

up front with the driver

and two others 

and boy did she talk 

almost all the way 

but I can't really recall 

all that she had to say.