The whole team (consisting of bikers: Johannes, Kate, Jeff, Heini, Stepha, Eike, Merijn and I and support: Johannes wife Deli) left Gigiri around 1430. This meant that I had picked up Merijn from school just before which all went smooth. We managed to fit two bikes easily in my car, and were lucky that Johannes had managed fix two bikes on his car, besides having space for three inside. Then we followed Johannes through 
Runda and many small roads were after we hit the Thika road far north for the worst traffic and road works. Well before five we were able to pick up our starting kit, with number and Tshirt, at the Nanyuki flight strip. Then we headed on for Timau lodge, where we were installed in one of the cosiest bandas I had seen so far in this country. At the lodge were a few other bikers, but the largest population consisted of a 50 scouting kids. Which was a little unfortunate, since they were extremely fond of chips at the diner buffet leaving little for us. Although simple, the food was very tasty. At the rear of the banda was a door to a porch and a fireplace. For a little money the guards made a little campfire for us, and placed a bench next to it, which had absolutely zero comfort, but we did not need to sit on the ground.
Next day we had to get up early, so there was served breakfast extra early for us bikers. We had to drive for 20 minutes to the start point where we very shortly had the nicest view of Mt Kenya, with only the very peak in the clouds. The bikes were put together, tubes filled and backpacks with supplies. The picture of the whole group was taken, car closed and we headed for the start. There the organisation provided some last briefing, while I was not the
only one wondering what I was heading down to. At exactly 9 everybody went off. Stepha, Merijn and I had a yellow number for 35 km. All the others had blue for 50 km except Johannes a red number for 70 km. Our route was going almost only downhill from almost 10 000 to 4 000 ft, hence the name. First part was among wheat fields of a highly mechanised farm with large threshing machines. Then we passed a countryside road with small farms, followed by a more difficult stretch on car tracks through a moist forest. At the water stop in the middle we cheered, first at Eike and then at Johannes, who were passing us, after the additional loop they had to do for their colour.
The most difficult part was very stony, and became almost too much for Merijn. Bu
t next was a very long shallow slope through a village, where just as everywhere else people were cheering, but here they offered a push as well. On top was another water stop where we took a long break. At each water stop the numbers and colours were noted and the volunteers had continuous contact with the organisation which had medical teams available with car and motorbike. A small helicopter was following the first red bikers.
We drove on to the last water stop after a smooth sandy path down through bushy savannah. When we stopped there Deli passed us by in the Landcruiser, and after 30 km gladly accepted a ride to the finish. Where I entered before them around twelve something, finding Stepha. Who was looking for the others, in vain. There were several tents serving different kinds of food and drinks. A tusker straight from a cooling box full with ice tasted absolutely great, while we waited for the others alongside the finish. Heini came in next, then Eike (who had decided to do red) almost together with Jeff and Kate (who had experienced the worst fall of us) and much later Johannes, who also had fallen and delayed because of elephants that had come to close to the track to pass safely. While we waited for a taxi organised by the lodge to pick us up, we all enjoyed food and drink in the warm sun in the mild shade of acacias trees. The team of David Kinah, were we rented our bikes, had won the first 3 places, all black Kenyans. The most of the bikers were muzungos like us, a large group of black
Kenyans on bikes without gears, very few Kenyan Indians and some white Kenyans. A large part of the organisation seemed to be white Kenyans. I find it very interesting to observe all those people.
Our taxi was the oldest and tiniest Toyota landcruiser I ever seen, painted turkoise blue (Merijn thought it to ugly to photograph it). The good thing was it had a roof rack where we could place the bikes that came with my and Heini’s car. With the friend of the taxi driver behind the seats, we three ladies and Merijn fitted on the back seat, while Eike and the driver in the front. The driver knew ‘a short cut’ that took us two hours through bush passing several Masai bomas and some giraffes, where after we hit the
tarmac again just after the junction to Meru. In the slow car it took another 20 minutes to get back to our cars, almost. Because it had rained the low point before the parking had turned into a mud hole, where the car got stuck. We left the car so the guys could figure out themselves how to fix the 4x4. Luckily they had got out before we went down, because it was really slippery, but we came out alright. There we decided to wait for Heini, who although warned, got stuck completely. We tried to help with bare hands, since I had not brought any of that kind of rescue equipment. When we had to give up we heard some more heavy vehicles coming, for which we had to make space. We warned them, and to get to the parking, they had to help Heini out. Not long after we arrived at the lodge she arrived as well.
Diner consisted of nyama choma and mashed potatoes with sauce, which we shared with the scouting kids. They entertained us with small plays dealing with very serious issues, main ingredients; housekeepers and death. Merijn was unable to sit up any longer, so tired. He plugged in his mp3 player and creped under the blankets. After a few minutes he called me to come now, there was a bat flying around in our banda, but to my opinion not anyt
hing to fear. So a little later he slept. Not long after the fire turned into glowing ashes as we finished our drinks and followed Merijn’s example.
Sunday morning after breakfast we drove back to Nairobi, without any surprises. There Merijn had to pack his bag to go on school camp on Monday morning.
Mt Kenya challenge: www.10to4.org
David Kinjah biking initiative: www.safarisimbaz.com
Photos top to bottom: 1&2 pre start by Deli, 3, 4 & 5 with Stephas camera, 6 after finish by Deli, 7 almost on the way home by Merijn.
Runda and many small roads were after we hit the Thika road far north for the worst traffic and road works. Well before five we were able to pick up our starting kit, with number and Tshirt, at the Nanyuki flight strip. Then we headed on for Timau lodge, where we were installed in one of the cosiest bandas I had seen so far in this country. At the lodge were a few other bikers, but the largest population consisted of a 50 scouting kids. Which was a little unfortunate, since they were extremely fond of chips at the diner buffet leaving little for us. Although simple, the food was very tasty. At the rear of the banda was a door to a porch and a fireplace. For a little money the guards made a little campfire for us, and placed a bench next to it, which had absolutely zero comfort, but we did not need to sit on the ground.Next day we had to get up early, so there was served breakfast extra early for us bikers. We had to drive for 20 minutes to the start point where we very shortly had the nicest view of Mt Kenya, with only the very peak in the clouds. The bikes were put together, tubes filled and backpacks with supplies. The picture of the whole group was taken, car closed and we headed for the start. There the organisation provided some last briefing, while I was not the
only one wondering what I was heading down to. At exactly 9 everybody went off. Stepha, Merijn and I had a yellow number for 35 km. All the others had blue for 50 km except Johannes a red number for 70 km. Our route was going almost only downhill from almost 10 000 to 4 000 ft, hence the name. First part was among wheat fields of a highly mechanised farm with large threshing machines. Then we passed a countryside road with small farms, followed by a more difficult stretch on car tracks through a moist forest. At the water stop in the middle we cheered, first at Eike and then at Johannes, who were passing us, after the additional loop they had to do for their colour.The most difficult part was very stony, and became almost too much for Merijn. Bu
t next was a very long shallow slope through a village, where just as everywhere else people were cheering, but here they offered a push as well. On top was another water stop where we took a long break. At each water stop the numbers and colours were noted and the volunteers had continuous contact with the organisation which had medical teams available with car and motorbike. A small helicopter was following the first red bikers.We drove on to the last water stop after a smooth sandy path down through bushy savannah. When we stopped there Deli passed us by in the Landcruiser, and after 30 km gladly accepted a ride to the finish. Where I entered before them around twelve something, finding Stepha. Who was looking for the others, in vain. There were several tents serving different kinds of food and drinks. A tusker straight from a cooling box full with ice tasted absolutely great, while we waited for the others alongside the finish. Heini came in next, then Eike (who had decided to do red) almost together with Jeff and Kate (who had experienced the worst fall of us) and much later Johannes, who also had fallen and delayed because of elephants that had come to close to the track to pass safely. While we waited for a taxi organised by the lodge to pick us up, we all enjoyed food and drink in the warm sun in the mild shade of acacias trees. The team of David Kinah, were we rented our bikes, had won the first 3 places, all black Kenyans. The most of the bikers were muzungos like us, a large group of black
Kenyans on bikes without gears, very few Kenyan Indians and some white Kenyans. A large part of the organisation seemed to be white Kenyans. I find it very interesting to observe all those people.Our taxi was the oldest and tiniest Toyota landcruiser I ever seen, painted turkoise blue (Merijn thought it to ugly to photograph it). The good thing was it had a roof rack where we could place the bikes that came with my and Heini’s car. With the friend of the taxi driver behind the seats, we three ladies and Merijn fitted on the back seat, while Eike and the driver in the front. The driver knew ‘a short cut’ that took us two hours through bush passing several Masai bomas and some giraffes, where after we hit the
tarmac again just after the junction to Meru. In the slow car it took another 20 minutes to get back to our cars, almost. Because it had rained the low point before the parking had turned into a mud hole, where the car got stuck. We left the car so the guys could figure out themselves how to fix the 4x4. Luckily they had got out before we went down, because it was really slippery, but we came out alright. There we decided to wait for Heini, who although warned, got stuck completely. We tried to help with bare hands, since I had not brought any of that kind of rescue equipment. When we had to give up we heard some more heavy vehicles coming, for which we had to make space. We warned them, and to get to the parking, they had to help Heini out. Not long after we arrived at the lodge she arrived as well.Diner consisted of nyama choma and mashed potatoes with sauce, which we shared with the scouting kids. They entertained us with small plays dealing with very serious issues, main ingredients; housekeepers and death. Merijn was unable to sit up any longer, so tired. He plugged in his mp3 player and creped under the blankets. After a few minutes he called me to come now, there was a bat flying around in our banda, but to my opinion not anyt
hing to fear. So a little later he slept. Not long after the fire turned into glowing ashes as we finished our drinks and followed Merijn’s example.Sunday morning after breakfast we drove back to Nairobi, without any surprises. There Merijn had to pack his bag to go on school camp on Monday morning.
Mt Kenya challenge: www.10to4.org
David Kinjah biking initiative: www.safarisimbaz.com
Photos top to bottom: 1&2 pre start by Deli, 3, 4 & 5 with Stephas camera, 6 after finish by Deli, 7 almost on the way home by Merijn.
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