4 March 2011 - Moyale to Sololo camp - 79km
The first of 3 off road sections. Not sure what to expect really, and this si where tire selction can play a huge role - it can make ot brake your day onb this terrain. Luckily for me my Travel Conti;s were still working fine and great to have on my bike (so impressed with this tire - I have still not changed my tire once this whole trip). We started early and had breakfast at 6:15, just to miss the heat of the day, which at 11 am that morning, was very understandable. The Meltdown Madness section was living up to its name and you had to make sure you took enough liquids with you, oitgerwise you will find yourslef rehydrated very quicly! The riders are definately a little more upbeat today, first cycling day in Kenya and no more kids throwing you with rocks etc, which was something really to look forward to. Also the peope were not lining the streets like they used to in ethiopia, so we basically lost our "celebrity" status. Saw lost of camals netxd to the road, which was throwing me off slighly, i was expecting to giraffe! (hopefully this was going to change at some point). In all it was a great ride to lunch, with the gravel road being very riders firendly and people riding like mad ove rthe surface. The afternoon strecht was definately more tough than the morning section, but we still got into camp at a good time. My bump was holding up pretty well, so i was pretty satisfied with the days riding and how it went. But I am also very sure that the 2 mando days coming will be somehting of a different story (also confirmed by Surita at our riders meeting in the afternoon).
5 March 2011 - Sololo camp to Bush camp - 84km
Mando day - What a tough day! All on very bad gravel and no mercy given - just relentless gravel and rocks everywhere - it felt at one stage as if we were cycling on Mars, there was just nothing around us exept rocks and sand. It was doing its name proud as being the 2 toughest days of the tour, 2 mandos in consecutive days is not childs play! I got a bad flat which messed upo my time slighly, as my hands were so stiff from the riding, ity was a real struggle to get the flats fixed. There was also no Coke stops along the way, not supringly, because there was literally no life or people at all on the road, so we had to carry all our water with us. A lot of people were quite busted up when they eventually did get into camp. My bums was also pretty sore as well as my hands, it is just pure pain on your wrist, so much pressure (nore sure how the guys do it without suspension!). What was very impressive was the way the bikes handles this terrain, becasue they really do gpo through a lot. I got new respect for my bike after this road. Ryan and myself also had a good chat on the road inbetween all of the chaos and we had agreed to help eahc other out on the EFI thing, it was our aim to both make it. I also had my first real good fall, trying juist one too many time to cycle on the islands and seeing my back side for doing so. And we stayed at one of our crappiest campt sites to date, in the middle of nowhere, and all of the dust was this flour efftec, and it jhust stuck to eveyrhting! Tough mood in campo tonight.
6 March 2011 - Bush camp to Marsabit - 87km
Mando day - Today is generally considered the toughest day on the tour amoung the staff members, and after my experience, I have to agree. Steve has openly admitted that this "road" is the shi^^est road in africa, no excuses and no messing aorund. It was pretty much a repition of the previous days riding, road again terrible and actually un ridable, add to that a head win, some ascending, and 6 preivous days of cycling, then you are in for a long one! A lot of the people were sitting out this day because of what they had experienced the day before. I was feeling pretty good and had a great first 25km, overtaking some of the racers! And the lunch truck as well (felt really good at that stage). My bump was giivng me some problems again, but Matteus did a great pacth job at lunch. Then disatser after lunch, my saddle broke. Lady luck was on my side, as Patricvk was only cycling from lunch, but now heading back in my direction, because he was not going to ride further. so he said that i could borrow his bike. The problem was that we could not get his peddlas off to put on my cleats (so that it could fir my shoes), so I had to cycle with his cycling shoes - which were 3 sizes to small! after that I had to take a break every 8-10km to take off his shoes, the pressure on my feet was just to much. The one thing that was very good and I was veyr fortunate with it, was that his bike has dual suspension, so it is perfect for off rode riding and on this terrain. So from the time I losty with my bike, i very quickly made it up with his bike and was soon overtaking all of the riders that passed me previously. There was a really tough stretch after lunch, just hot, ascending, head wind, corragation, eveyrhting. Christiano's refresh stop at 60km was VERY welcome and qa good boost. It felt pretty surreal making into the monastary where we were staying, pumping my fist into the air, I had made it (and I got a hand clap from the people that had already finished). The beer tasted so good after this ride. I finished 13th that day, just after all of the racers and Luke and Terry. Lucklily Chris had booked a room for us, so I felt really good after a nice shower (and some more beers). Some people were cycling that day for a long time, none so than Ruth, who did 12 hours on the bike, but unfortauntely she was told to get into the truck, she was just going to slow. The stuff of legends..... Quote of the day in my diary, there are no short cuts to any place worth going - so true after today!
7 March 2011 - rest day Marsabit
There was nothing much to do in town, pretty boring little place. Breakfeast was a ripp off agaoin at the nun place, we only got one boiled egg and normal bread with coffee for breakfast for 300 Kenyan Chillings - crazy. Juts confimred that at our camps, the people really go to rip us off and it is better to go into town to get food. With Martin and Gabe managed to fix the saddle - just needed to replace the screw and also clean my chain and the bike for the first time. We had a veyr chilled afternoon, and I also mamaged to speak to mom and stepohanie (although it was very comical as the camp only has network reception at certain places withoin the camp, but it goes away, so I was walking around at the funniest places in the camp while talking). I was also getting pretty concerned with my right pinky and ring finger, hand feeling very numb and I definately do not have feeling in my hand. I brough some mangos in town and these were delicious (I had a mango craving from Christiano's stop the day before). The annoying moment of the day was the fact that the banks here give you a different exchaneg rate when you change USD100 and USD50 notes vs USD20, USD5 and USD1's. Crazy!!!
8 March 2011 - Marsabit to Bush Camp - 115km
Hell day, this is how I would decribe this day!!! What a tough day and it was basically a continous of the 2 previous mando days! (this one can actually also be one because of the distance to travel on gravel - not fun). It was still full on gravel and corregation, with my arms feeling like it was going to fall off and my bump getting sorer with every bump. Mentally, I was not in the right frame of mind for this rough stuff and I suffered becasue of it (it also did not help that we were not exactly given the right information about the road). This was my second worst day of the trip - not cool and I did not enjoy this. The only thing that was positive was the way the Masai people dress, with very bight clothes, and piercings in their ears etc. (very sad that we cannot take any pictures). The corregation was just relentless and it felt like it was never going to stop. I think me and Peter Lamond both had our meltdown madness moments at lunch - we had reached boiling point. Eventually later on we both settled down and actually just laughed and made stupid jokes about it. It was also fair to say that eveyrone found this ride very tough, because for all of the people that did the 2 previous mando days, our bodies just did not recover enough in that one rest day, it was not enough. This was a bad day at the office and everyone just needed to write it off and move on. The other shining light moment was that our camp was at the start of the paved road for the next day, so there was something to look forward to. I was also aggitaed with my hands, as I was seriously getting pimns and needles in my right pinky and ring finger. At least at the end of the day, Patrcik did a really good job of making me cool down and we also had a good humor moment with Scott about Melrose Place (sounds stupid now, but it really helped then).
9 March 2011 - Bush Camp to Isiolo - 158kmWhat a day! Very eventful and unfortuantely for all of the wrong reasons! 6 riders were hedl up by gunmen while doing the firts part of the section in the morning. Another rider almost got held up, but she rode awya just before these 6 were hedl up, but she got a nasty rock to the head. Althouhg everyone was very relieved when we heard that no one had any serious injuries. Due to this incident, the whole day was called off and there was to be no further cycling for the day. We heard about the news when we arrived at the lunch camp, and then had to choice to ride in (in a big convoy) or just take the truck to the camp site (and not loose EFI). I decided to do the truck option, as my body was in serious need of a break, but some of the riders still rode the whole way. So in all it was a really bad day with everyone in shock at the camp site and for obvious reasons the main talking point of the staff and the riders. I was very relived that no one got badly hurt, althouhg not so shocked about the whole thing as some of the other riders, as these incidents happen unfortunately on a regular basis in SA. I was also really struggling in the morning and it would hav ebeen a veyr long day for me. My mind was playing mind games and my body aching from the preivous days riding. I was done and just barely made it to lunch without knowing anyhting that had occured behind me up until then). Just a very bad day in all. The camp site was great though and we could all have showers and east and drink some beers,which helped relieved the unfortunate events of the day at least a little. The plan was howveer to continue on the next day, althouhg the day would be a non racing day so that eveyrone could chill out a bit and cycle with each other and give each other some support.
10 March 2011 - Isiolo to Nanyuki - 71kmExactly what the doctor ordered for me, nice easy ride into town (I was in before 12). The town is situated right on the equator, which we will be crossoing tomorrow (i will personally be quite ahighlight for me). The first 20km was a very steady climb, but one of those funny ones where the road seems to be straight, and it feels that you brakes are on or soemthing, but meantime it is just you ascending (very gradually). The cycling was also going better than yesterday, and it seemed yesterday's bad day was over, the show must go on...... With cycling, you cannot focus on the bad day, you just have to move on (maybe with a lot of things in life). Then we had an uphill for another 20km to lunch, but this uphill was probably my favourite one of the whole trip - not sure why, but I was flying on this section. Felt realy good and the legs full of energy. We also had a good tial wind (I thoughty these did not exist anymore :) ) and then the road was also very well paved. After lunch it was juts a great ride into the town with terry and we were flying (average around 30km an hour) and had a great view of Mount Kenia on our left hand side with the snow topped peaks. Camped at the Sportman's Ground campsite and had a great lunch at the bar and their place also had internet (firts time whole trip that I could get internet in riding days). It was just great to be in so early and really just chill out and read a book.
11 March 2011 - Isiolo to Sayona - 105kmCrossed the equator today! Wow, how far did Cairo not feel at that moment when I was cycling away from the sign. So nice and it was such a greta feeling to realize how far we have come! I was cylcing that first part of the sign alone, and a really good time just to reflect on the journey thus far, where we have been and things and places that we have seen. A real special moment for me. Nice ride into the camp site, which was great again - we stayed at a river rafting shop so they had eveyrthing at the site, bar, very nice grass to camp on, lots of shade and trees and nice facilities etc. The bar was great, becasue it had a TV that was hooked to DSTV, so we were wathcing live cricket match between England and Bangladesh. The highlight of the day was that the super 15 game between the Stormers and the Highlanders was also being shown, so guess what we were whatching at night after dinner (still only saw the first half, was a bit sleepy). It is also funny to see the romances on the trip, one being Martin and Wendy, which I called 2 weeks ago to Terry (You owe me mate!). I am still struggling a bit with my grip, but hopefully I can sort it out and I just need to keep focussing on my grips and sitting position.
12 March 2011 - Syaona to Nairobi - 136kmLooking forward to this rest day, just want to gte to Arusha and get this section over and done with. Because of the numerous road workds on this stretch into Niarobi, and with the traffic, the tour decided for riders safety that we would only cycle the firts 70km anbd then all of us with bikes be ridden in the trucks to the camp site. Looking onto that strech as we were driving by in the trucks, it was a very good choice. There was nothing to really mention about the 70km, just glad it was pretty easy and a nice ride. we stayed at the Indaba camp site, which was great. Scott and myself went off to the bike shop to find some spare tubes and handle bars (he was looking for soemthing else), but in the end, we came back with nothing.a whole group of about 25 riders went in the evening to a restaurant called Carnivore, where it is basically eat all you can meat place. This was heaven for the riders, and bad for the place, as a bunch of cyclist cyclign through africa with an appetite is bad for your business on this tyupe of a meal! The waiters were astounded at how much we could eat. Scott and daniel too the prizes and only stopped eating because they would not give us desert until everyone was finished eating (so all of us insisted that the 2 of them stop eating). Also had my firts bottle of red wine (Cab) for the foirst time on the trip - went down great with all of the meat! I also had some crocodile, which tatsed like fish (not recommended(. It was a great evening and I think one of the better ones on the trip. Also Pierre got a "surpise" bday singing to by the waiters in Swahili when we told them a little lie and said it was Pierre's bday (we just wanted them to sing and you should have seen Pierre's face when they started - turned red).
13 March 2011 - rest day NairobiGreat day for the riders at the camp. The camp site is Indaba's, so it really has everything one would need. Very well laid out, and also I love the name of the bar "Rubber Arm" (maybe one day I will call my bar that), it had TV with running DSTV there.... Very conveniently located close to a very modent shoping mall with lots of South african shops (like Mr Price and Woolworths) and then also a big spar which has everything. I did some old school shopping in the mall and stocked up on all of my goodies, including loads of food items (biscuits, chips, fruit), liquir (honny Walker and KWV - yes, they have it there) and then another sleeping mat as well. I also bought a mini laptop, which is great and hopefully will help me a bit with keeping my laptop up to date (also got it at a great price, US330 Dell Inspirion). There are also numerous very nice take away places, like chicken, pizza, ice cream ect just next to the mall. We ended the evening with some desrt and had soft serve (first on the tour) - I had a medium tub and Scott and Chriss a large one (the medium one was huge, the large scary!). We also had our first rian shower that night of the whole tour. It was rianing quite heavely for about an hour, and then after that it stopped. My tent held pretty well, but it again made me realise rain and camping is not a good combination! Heading to tanzania, and the weather forecast is rain for the coming week, fingers crossed.........
14 March 2011 - Nairobi to Namanga - 157km
There are loads more new sectional riders (1 Saffa, 1 Ozzie, 1 Brit, 2 Polish, 7 Egyptian riders), plus a few of the riders girlfriends, so you could see the normal system was a little streched this morning (took longer to get breakfast, ques to put your bags in the lockers etc). I was also stuggling a bit with my locker, as all of the new stuff I bought the day before took more place than I anticipited (although there was a lot of food included as well, which would be eaten later). Mentally I jus wanted to get these 2 days over, needed to get to Arusha. I rode with Chris the whole day, the morning being a bit of a struggle but at least the part after lunch better. I still hate these long rides, I just do not like them. I prefer the shorter rides. Funny what a mental thing it can be, I can sit on my saddle for 6 hours on a 150km ride or for a offrode 85km ridfe, but I still prefer the 85km one, it just feels shorter. Still great scenery and looks exactly like a Kenyan scenery or what I would expect it to look like, vast lands, green vegattion, trees etc. Still glad to see that I was about 2 hours quicker than the Day 2 ride, just 6.5 hours on the bike compared to 8.5.
The first of 3 off road sections. Not sure what to expect really, and this si where tire selction can play a huge role - it can make ot brake your day onb this terrain. Luckily for me my Travel Conti;s were still working fine and great to have on my bike (so impressed with this tire - I have still not changed my tire once this whole trip). We started early and had breakfast at 6:15, just to miss the heat of the day, which at 11 am that morning, was very understandable. The Meltdown Madness section was living up to its name and you had to make sure you took enough liquids with you, oitgerwise you will find yourslef rehydrated very quicly! The riders are definately a little more upbeat today, first cycling day in Kenya and no more kids throwing you with rocks etc, which was something really to look forward to. Also the peope were not lining the streets like they used to in ethiopia, so we basically lost our "celebrity" status. Saw lost of camals netxd to the road, which was throwing me off slighly, i was expecting to giraffe! (hopefully this was going to change at some point). In all it was a great ride to lunch, with the gravel road being very riders firendly and people riding like mad ove rthe surface. The afternoon strecht was definately more tough than the morning section, but we still got into camp at a good time. My bump was holding up pretty well, so i was pretty satisfied with the days riding and how it went. But I am also very sure that the 2 mando days coming will be somehting of a different story (also confirmed by Surita at our riders meeting in the afternoon).
5 March 2011 - Sololo camp to Bush camp - 84km
Mando day - What a tough day! All on very bad gravel and no mercy given - just relentless gravel and rocks everywhere - it felt at one stage as if we were cycling on Mars, there was just nothing around us exept rocks and sand. It was doing its name proud as being the 2 toughest days of the tour, 2 mandos in consecutive days is not childs play! I got a bad flat which messed upo my time slighly, as my hands were so stiff from the riding, ity was a real struggle to get the flats fixed. There was also no Coke stops along the way, not supringly, because there was literally no life or people at all on the road, so we had to carry all our water with us. A lot of people were quite busted up when they eventually did get into camp. My bums was also pretty sore as well as my hands, it is just pure pain on your wrist, so much pressure (nore sure how the guys do it without suspension!). What was very impressive was the way the bikes handles this terrain, becasue they really do gpo through a lot. I got new respect for my bike after this road. Ryan and myself also had a good chat on the road inbetween all of the chaos and we had agreed to help eahc other out on the EFI thing, it was our aim to both make it. I also had my first real good fall, trying juist one too many time to cycle on the islands and seeing my back side for doing so. And we stayed at one of our crappiest campt sites to date, in the middle of nowhere, and all of the dust was this flour efftec, and it jhust stuck to eveyrhting! Tough mood in campo tonight.
6 March 2011 - Bush camp to Marsabit - 87km
Mando day - Today is generally considered the toughest day on the tour amoung the staff members, and after my experience, I have to agree. Steve has openly admitted that this "road" is the shi^^est road in africa, no excuses and no messing aorund. It was pretty much a repition of the previous days riding, road again terrible and actually un ridable, add to that a head win, some ascending, and 6 preivous days of cycling, then you are in for a long one! A lot of the people were sitting out this day because of what they had experienced the day before. I was feeling pretty good and had a great first 25km, overtaking some of the racers! And the lunch truck as well (felt really good at that stage). My bump was giivng me some problems again, but Matteus did a great pacth job at lunch. Then disatser after lunch, my saddle broke. Lady luck was on my side, as Patricvk was only cycling from lunch, but now heading back in my direction, because he was not going to ride further. so he said that i could borrow his bike. The problem was that we could not get his peddlas off to put on my cleats (so that it could fir my shoes), so I had to cycle with his cycling shoes - which were 3 sizes to small! after that I had to take a break every 8-10km to take off his shoes, the pressure on my feet was just to much. The one thing that was very good and I was veyr fortunate with it, was that his bike has dual suspension, so it is perfect for off rode riding and on this terrain. So from the time I losty with my bike, i very quickly made it up with his bike and was soon overtaking all of the riders that passed me previously. There was a really tough stretch after lunch, just hot, ascending, head wind, corragation, eveyrhting. Christiano's refresh stop at 60km was VERY welcome and qa good boost. It felt pretty surreal making into the monastary where we were staying, pumping my fist into the air, I had made it (and I got a hand clap from the people that had already finished). The beer tasted so good after this ride. I finished 13th that day, just after all of the racers and Luke and Terry. Lucklily Chris had booked a room for us, so I felt really good after a nice shower (and some more beers). Some people were cycling that day for a long time, none so than Ruth, who did 12 hours on the bike, but unfortauntely she was told to get into the truck, she was just going to slow. The stuff of legends..... Quote of the day in my diary, there are no short cuts to any place worth going - so true after today!
7 March 2011 - rest day Marsabit
There was nothing much to do in town, pretty boring little place. Breakfeast was a ripp off agaoin at the nun place, we only got one boiled egg and normal bread with coffee for breakfast for 300 Kenyan Chillings - crazy. Juts confimred that at our camps, the people really go to rip us off and it is better to go into town to get food. With Martin and Gabe managed to fix the saddle - just needed to replace the screw and also clean my chain and the bike for the first time. We had a veyr chilled afternoon, and I also mamaged to speak to mom and stepohanie (although it was very comical as the camp only has network reception at certain places withoin the camp, but it goes away, so I was walking around at the funniest places in the camp while talking). I was also getting pretty concerned with my right pinky and ring finger, hand feeling very numb and I definately do not have feeling in my hand. I brough some mangos in town and these were delicious (I had a mango craving from Christiano's stop the day before). The annoying moment of the day was the fact that the banks here give you a different exchaneg rate when you change USD100 and USD50 notes vs USD20, USD5 and USD1's. Crazy!!!
8 March 2011 - Marsabit to Bush Camp - 115km
Hell day, this is how I would decribe this day!!! What a tough day and it was basically a continous of the 2 previous mando days! (this one can actually also be one because of the distance to travel on gravel - not fun). It was still full on gravel and corregation, with my arms feeling like it was going to fall off and my bump getting sorer with every bump. Mentally, I was not in the right frame of mind for this rough stuff and I suffered becasue of it (it also did not help that we were not exactly given the right information about the road). This was my second worst day of the trip - not cool and I did not enjoy this. The only thing that was positive was the way the Masai people dress, with very bight clothes, and piercings in their ears etc. (very sad that we cannot take any pictures). The corregation was just relentless and it felt like it was never going to stop. I think me and Peter Lamond both had our meltdown madness moments at lunch - we had reached boiling point. Eventually later on we both settled down and actually just laughed and made stupid jokes about it. It was also fair to say that eveyrone found this ride very tough, because for all of the people that did the 2 previous mando days, our bodies just did not recover enough in that one rest day, it was not enough. This was a bad day at the office and everyone just needed to write it off and move on. The other shining light moment was that our camp was at the start of the paved road for the next day, so there was something to look forward to. I was also aggitaed with my hands, as I was seriously getting pimns and needles in my right pinky and ring finger. At least at the end of the day, Patrcik did a really good job of making me cool down and we also had a good humor moment with Scott about Melrose Place (sounds stupid now, but it really helped then).
9 March 2011 - Bush Camp to Isiolo - 158kmWhat a day! Very eventful and unfortuantely for all of the wrong reasons! 6 riders were hedl up by gunmen while doing the firts part of the section in the morning. Another rider almost got held up, but she rode awya just before these 6 were hedl up, but she got a nasty rock to the head. Althouhg everyone was very relieved when we heard that no one had any serious injuries. Due to this incident, the whole day was called off and there was to be no further cycling for the day. We heard about the news when we arrived at the lunch camp, and then had to choice to ride in (in a big convoy) or just take the truck to the camp site (and not loose EFI). I decided to do the truck option, as my body was in serious need of a break, but some of the riders still rode the whole way. So in all it was a really bad day with everyone in shock at the camp site and for obvious reasons the main talking point of the staff and the riders. I was very relived that no one got badly hurt, althouhg not so shocked about the whole thing as some of the other riders, as these incidents happen unfortunately on a regular basis in SA. I was also really struggling in the morning and it would hav ebeen a veyr long day for me. My mind was playing mind games and my body aching from the preivous days riding. I was done and just barely made it to lunch without knowing anyhting that had occured behind me up until then). Just a very bad day in all. The camp site was great though and we could all have showers and east and drink some beers,which helped relieved the unfortunate events of the day at least a little. The plan was howveer to continue on the next day, althouhg the day would be a non racing day so that eveyrone could chill out a bit and cycle with each other and give each other some support.
10 March 2011 - Isiolo to Nanyuki - 71kmExactly what the doctor ordered for me, nice easy ride into town (I was in before 12). The town is situated right on the equator, which we will be crossoing tomorrow (i will personally be quite ahighlight for me). The first 20km was a very steady climb, but one of those funny ones where the road seems to be straight, and it feels that you brakes are on or soemthing, but meantime it is just you ascending (very gradually). The cycling was also going better than yesterday, and it seemed yesterday's bad day was over, the show must go on...... With cycling, you cannot focus on the bad day, you just have to move on (maybe with a lot of things in life). Then we had an uphill for another 20km to lunch, but this uphill was probably my favourite one of the whole trip - not sure why, but I was flying on this section. Felt realy good and the legs full of energy. We also had a good tial wind (I thoughty these did not exist anymore :) ) and then the road was also very well paved. After lunch it was juts a great ride into the town with terry and we were flying (average around 30km an hour) and had a great view of Mount Kenia on our left hand side with the snow topped peaks. Camped at the Sportman's Ground campsite and had a great lunch at the bar and their place also had internet (firts time whole trip that I could get internet in riding days). It was just great to be in so early and really just chill out and read a book.
11 March 2011 - Isiolo to Sayona - 105kmCrossed the equator today! Wow, how far did Cairo not feel at that moment when I was cycling away from the sign. So nice and it was such a greta feeling to realize how far we have come! I was cylcing that first part of the sign alone, and a really good time just to reflect on the journey thus far, where we have been and things and places that we have seen. A real special moment for me. Nice ride into the camp site, which was great again - we stayed at a river rafting shop so they had eveyrthing at the site, bar, very nice grass to camp on, lots of shade and trees and nice facilities etc. The bar was great, becasue it had a TV that was hooked to DSTV, so we were wathcing live cricket match between England and Bangladesh. The highlight of the day was that the super 15 game between the Stormers and the Highlanders was also being shown, so guess what we were whatching at night after dinner (still only saw the first half, was a bit sleepy). It is also funny to see the romances on the trip, one being Martin and Wendy, which I called 2 weeks ago to Terry (You owe me mate!). I am still struggling a bit with my grip, but hopefully I can sort it out and I just need to keep focussing on my grips and sitting position.
12 March 2011 - Syaona to Nairobi - 136kmLooking forward to this rest day, just want to gte to Arusha and get this section over and done with. Because of the numerous road workds on this stretch into Niarobi, and with the traffic, the tour decided for riders safety that we would only cycle the firts 70km anbd then all of us with bikes be ridden in the trucks to the camp site. Looking onto that strech as we were driving by in the trucks, it was a very good choice. There was nothing to really mention about the 70km, just glad it was pretty easy and a nice ride. we stayed at the Indaba camp site, which was great. Scott and myself went off to the bike shop to find some spare tubes and handle bars (he was looking for soemthing else), but in the end, we came back with nothing.a whole group of about 25 riders went in the evening to a restaurant called Carnivore, where it is basically eat all you can meat place. This was heaven for the riders, and bad for the place, as a bunch of cyclist cyclign through africa with an appetite is bad for your business on this tyupe of a meal! The waiters were astounded at how much we could eat. Scott and daniel too the prizes and only stopped eating because they would not give us desert until everyone was finished eating (so all of us insisted that the 2 of them stop eating). Also had my firts bottle of red wine (Cab) for the foirst time on the trip - went down great with all of the meat! I also had some crocodile, which tatsed like fish (not recommended(. It was a great evening and I think one of the better ones on the trip. Also Pierre got a "surpise" bday singing to by the waiters in Swahili when we told them a little lie and said it was Pierre's bday (we just wanted them to sing and you should have seen Pierre's face when they started - turned red).
13 March 2011 - rest day NairobiGreat day for the riders at the camp. The camp site is Indaba's, so it really has everything one would need. Very well laid out, and also I love the name of the bar "Rubber Arm" (maybe one day I will call my bar that), it had TV with running DSTV there.... Very conveniently located close to a very modent shoping mall with lots of South african shops (like Mr Price and Woolworths) and then also a big spar which has everything. I did some old school shopping in the mall and stocked up on all of my goodies, including loads of food items (biscuits, chips, fruit), liquir (honny Walker and KWV - yes, they have it there) and then another sleeping mat as well. I also bought a mini laptop, which is great and hopefully will help me a bit with keeping my laptop up to date (also got it at a great price, US330 Dell Inspirion). There are also numerous very nice take away places, like chicken, pizza, ice cream ect just next to the mall. We ended the evening with some desrt and had soft serve (first on the tour) - I had a medium tub and Scott and Chriss a large one (the medium one was huge, the large scary!). We also had our first rian shower that night of the whole tour. It was rianing quite heavely for about an hour, and then after that it stopped. My tent held pretty well, but it again made me realise rain and camping is not a good combination! Heading to tanzania, and the weather forecast is rain for the coming week, fingers crossed.........
14 March 2011 - Nairobi to Namanga - 157km
There are loads more new sectional riders (1 Saffa, 1 Ozzie, 1 Brit, 2 Polish, 7 Egyptian riders), plus a few of the riders girlfriends, so you could see the normal system was a little streched this morning (took longer to get breakfast, ques to put your bags in the lockers etc). I was also stuggling a bit with my locker, as all of the new stuff I bought the day before took more place than I anticipited (although there was a lot of food included as well, which would be eaten later). Mentally I jus wanted to get these 2 days over, needed to get to Arusha. I rode with Chris the whole day, the morning being a bit of a struggle but at least the part after lunch better. I still hate these long rides, I just do not like them. I prefer the shorter rides. Funny what a mental thing it can be, I can sit on my saddle for 6 hours on a 150km ride or for a offrode 85km ridfe, but I still prefer the 85km one, it just feels shorter. Still great scenery and looks exactly like a Kenyan scenery or what I would expect it to look like, vast lands, green vegattion, trees etc. Still glad to see that I was about 2 hours quicker than the Day 2 ride, just 6.5 hours on the bike compared to 8.5.
No comments:
Post a Comment