The first 15 km were the same as the last 15 km from yesterday's ride, I was not a happy camper, just don't like going backwards before being allowed to go forwards, and to cap it all off, it started to rain. Once back on the main road we donned our jackets and proceeded to cycle to Londiane.
Cycled past Lake Elementaita, a soda lake (alkaline lake) in the Great Rift Valley and managed to see some zebras along the road.
We had two Coke Stops before the Lunch Truck, it was tough going and Judith was pulling big amps. After lunch she decided to climb into the Truck - she was just going too slow - with another 71 km to go, would never have made it before the sunset cut off.
Cycled through the town of Nakuru, which was quite hectic, as the traffic was all over the place, had my third Coke Stop in town. Outside of the town, came upon a major accident where a Police vehicle had crashed head-on into the side of a large truck, causing a major traffic jam and great spectator value.
Then the hills started, and I began getting slower as I attempted to finish the distance. Got to the town of Salagga and met up with Goupaul at coke stop number 4, we spent approximately 1 hour waiting for Brad the Sweep Rider to catch up with us, but he didn't materialize (he was busy looking for a perceived lost rider). While waiting, Goupaul spent his time trying to teach some of the local ladies to cycle.
We left Salagga, and then the road became much steeper, at the one major hill which was 5km in length, I must have walked 2km out of the 5km. I was just so knackered - no power left in the legs. To make it worse, when pedaling up the hills, the school kids kept on running next to me, forcing me to keep up a fast pace. Then it started raining again and I became quite water-logged.
Brad finally caught up to me, and we soon stopped for my 5th coke stop, which was at the smallest shop I had ever stopped at.
We finally hit the summit of the last hill of the day and promptly began our last descent into camp, but not before one of the locals shouted, "Bwana" (which is more a Zambian term for Mr. than the Kenyan one of "Muzungu" meaning White Man). I replied, "Yes" and he said, "Bwana, you are late!!". Never a truer word had been said in jest!
And so, I cycled down the big decent into the Kenyan Bush Camp, where on arrival, a relieved Judith greeted me with a cold beer.
I had been out on the road for nearly 12 hours, definitely a long long day for me, but at least I had completed the 146 km.
Cheers,
Mike T
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| Back in the Land of Tusker. |
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| Back at the Main Road we donned our rain jackets. |
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| Coke Stop No. 1 - Judith indicating what she wanted to drink. |
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Hotel Horns sounds quite interesting.
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| Traffic associated with the major vehicle pileup outside Nakuru. |
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| Precious School for Precious Girls? |
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| Coke Stop No. 4 - Spent nearly an hour there waiting for Brad. |
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| Goupaul teaching one of the local ladies to cycle. |
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Lunch Truck in an isolated position on today's ride.
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| The smallest Coke Stop yet |
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| Arriving at tonight's Bush Camp |
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