It's Friday afternoon. I am ushering in the weekend at Vox Wagen Campsite, on the Rwamagana side of Lake Muhazi.
Coming to Muhazi was not part of my plans this weekend. Earlier today, I was in Nyagasambu taking care of something not worth mentioning here. Once that nondescript mission was out of the way, I was supposed to head back to Kigali. But it was still early, and the lake was not far away.
Why not swing by?
This is not a weekend getaway. I am simply stopping by to say hello to the owner. And, of course, I also want to sit by the lake and do absolutely nothing for a while.
A lot has changed since my last visit.
My first encounter as I ride into the facility is with men at work. They are building. People in construction gear are hammering nails, measuring dimensions and doing all the things that happen on a construction site. Several new structures are taking shape. The place is going through a major facelift and will eventually reopen under a new name.
Although I am here in pursuit of serenity, I am not complaining. I like construction sites. They mean someone is thinking about tomorrow. To me, construction is synonymous with development and progress.
After catching up with my host, I take a walk around and stumble upon something quite interesting. A bicycle designed to float on the lake. Something similar to a pedal boat.
The idea of cycling on the surface of Lake Muhazi fascinates me. If the experiment works, this could become a fun new way of exploring this uniquely shaped water body.
As for the campsite itself, the new setup seems to be leaning more toward ordinary folks who simply want to escape to the lake without spending a fortune. I like that. We need more places where Rwandans can enjoy Lake Muhazi without breaking the bank.
For now, though, I am not thinking too much about what the place will become. I am sipping some juice and marveling at the narrow offshoot of the lake, tucked between breathtaking hills. After a long dry season, the hills are not as green as they usually are, but that will soon change. The rainy season is around the corner.
It is time to head back to Kigali. Muhazi has done its magic. This unplanned detour has somehow reset something in me.