the end of meltdown madness. Now in the Nairobi.

Having a good time at Carnivores in Nairobi.

the next 2 days that will take us into Tanzania and 3 rest days.

10^th March 2011. Isiolo to Nanyuki. 72kms.

After the mess of yesterday the TDA decided to have a no race day.  We all rolled out onto the highway and headed to the town of Nanyuki some 72kms away.  The first part of the day went uphill.  A climb of 1000metres over 20kms.  It was amazing to see the valley floor disappearing as we climbed and climbed to the coke stop.  The homes are now starting to have tin roofs and the people are not calling out as much for water, food or money.  It looks like we are going into a more civilised part of Africa.

At the coke stop I bought a wristband which  should probably last about a week knowing how good they make things in this part of the world.  Doesn’t matter, it looks good and that’s the main thing.

After the coke stop it was a steeper climb to the 40km lunch stop.  The mountains we were climbing were covered in little plots of lands trying to sprout enough food to feed a small family and to make an extra dollar in the process.  As got closer and closer to the summit the mighty Mt Kenya started to appear in the distance.  To see the peak with snow upon it and reliving the time back in 2004 when Josh and I climbed it was such a good feeling.  We rode around the base of the mountain for  the rest of the day.  

As soon as we reached the 40km mark the lunch truck appeared in the distance.  With the backdrop of Mt Kenya looming over us at lunch it was nice to sit on my own and just dream about the time we had so many years ago.

The ride into the Sportman's Arms Hotel Nanyuki was fabulous.  A downhill stretch of 30kms all the way into town.  It took 45mins to cover the distance.  Luke had got in earlier than me and booked a waiting for dinner to be ready.

After dinner it was back to my nice bed in a hotel room and just crash.

11^th March 2011. Nanyuki to Sagana.  Mike Savage Camp 105kms.

To describe this day in simple terms is quite easy.  Left the hotel for a convoy ride down to the equator sign for some photos and then it’s on our way to Sagana. I rode all day with Dr Garry and we made good time.  The ride was smooth road, beautiful green fields of banana, corn, maize, colonial homes from the past, mini vans in the thousands, diesel spewing vehicles, coffee stops, coke stops, more beautiful winding dirt roads leading into the mountains and soon we were arriving at the camp site.

The campsite is situated on the Tana River with a swimming pool, showers, a bar, and plenty of green grass to pitch my tent. Today was a really nice ride, the weather was really kind to us today.

Tomorrow is pretty special because we’re heading to the capital of Kenya, Nairobi.  This was the half way point on my previous cycle journey with Josh in 2004.  The ride will be 135kms and we have to have a long convoy into the town of Karen, (famous for out of Africa, Karen Blixen) because going through the heart of mad Nairobi would be downright stupid.  So a nice ride at a leisurely pace is on the menu for  tomorrow.

12^th March 2011.  Sagana to Nairobi. 135kms, shortened to dangerous traffic conditions.

Today the director changed the length of the day from 135kms to 55km due to the dangerous road conditions and road works between Nanyuki and the capital.  We stopped after a nice morning and waited for all the other cyclists to arrive, load the trucks with bikes and make the pain staking slow journey to the Indaba Camp in the suburb of Karen.

Tomorrow is a rest day, but first we’re going out for dinner at the famous Carnivore’s where you can eat all sorts of meat.  

13^th March 2011. Rest Day, in Nairobi.

Peter Lamond and I got up and headed off to the Masai Markets in down town Nairobi.  The place was just the way I left it in 2004 when traveling through with Josh.  After buying some nice Masai blankets and being harassed by every man and his dog to buy something, we were back on the bus and heading back to the camp to re pack the truck and get ready for the long ride tomorrow to the Tanzanian border town of Namango.

Tonight I’m going out for dinner with Peter and his wife and Peter’s sons partner.  Pizza is on the menu.