Cycle 5 Travelogue: Ride #4 begins! Kenya…

KENYA: Day 1 – Nairobi – Salama

Up at 6:30am and down to breakfast for 7am.
Slept OK, but definitely have some nerves this morning. PL felt a little bit too, but we both feel pretty good about the trip. I think the worry is just getting this first day done and getting out of the craziness of Nairobi.
Rolled out just after 8am and we are so thankful that we waited until today as the traffic was manageable.
Had fun weaving in and out to get out of Nairobi and then basically on the Mombasa Nairobi Highway the whole way.
Because there was a nice big shoulder, we were able to stay well enough off the road and even pass cars when it got backed up.
Pulled off around 11:30 just to have a quick snack and adjust our bikes a bit.
Rolled into ACK Resort Salama at 1pm (ACK-Anglican Church of Kenya).
Only 85K today, but because we haven’t been on our bikes we’re just being smart.
Checked in and had leftover noodles for lunch from last night.
Showered and then lounged in our room and got caught up with Strava , socials, etc. PL had a bit of a nap.
Dinner at 6pm and then stayed to watch the Canada v Morocco game. (Watched with staff in the lounge. Tough loss for the Canadians.)
In bed just after 10pm.

85.18km/583m

Day 2 – Salama – Merreushi🇰🇪

Up at 6:30 for breakfast at 7. Packed up and riding out at 8:15am with cloudy skies and 15°. July is always cloudy so it will likely be like this all month.
Plan is to go another 80-ish K today
Cloudy and a bit ominous with all the trucks, but it was beautiful to hear the churches and the worship music as it’s Sunday morning. Lots of families walking to church.
Definitely seeing a lot more of the Safari vehicles on this highway. Heading into Southern Kenya or coming back to Nairobi to fly out…
I’m thinking about the Mei and how they got the red and black checkered into their clothing. Have to look at the history of that.
Stopped on the road by Joyce from Nairobi who gave us avocados and bananas and has a store just up ahead here! She was very excited to see us, took pictures and video and will follow us and wants to donate 🙂 She has a hotel that will open up soon and also a shop. She lives in Dar Salam, in Tanzania, but we are going the different direction. The kindness of strangers…
Turned south at Emali onto this nice highway with very little traffic. Just more of the Safari vehicles. Hopefully that means we’ll start to see wildlife soon.
Should be in Tanzania tomorrow.
Saw our first Thompson Gazelle as we’re heading south.
Definitely hit some headwinds but just took our time as today was another short day.
Came into Merreushi & saw the Maasi Simba camp sign. It had great reviews so we decided to stay here for tonight.
About a 2 1/2 km ride on the red soil road. Rolled in to the camp to discuss price. Originally told us 120,000 KES, and PL was so offended he got his back up – got a little heated. Didn’t like being taken advantage of as Muzungos…lol. We were able to show him the price it said online which was only 23,050 KES. We’re the only ones here so they said sure. That includes dinner and breakfast.
Got a nice room with a single and a double bed. Nice netting too as there will be mosquitoes tonight.
Ate our bananas and pancakes from this morning along with the avocados from Joyce. A few chips and a cookie for dessert.
We’re pretty grimy with all of the traffic so it’s nice to have a shower when you can. Did some hand washing and then lounged. PL napped.
Back to the common area for tea and a fire.
Many Vervet Monkeys. So fun. The most common monkeys across Eastern and Southern Africa. Very intelligent and highly social, living in troops of 10–50 animals. And….they actually have blue balls. The bright blue testicles of male Vervet Monkey are one of their most distinctive features. They’re not just for show—they serve important biological and social purposes. LOL.
Spent time speaking to Kwenia, a local safari guide, about the Maasi culture. They live in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya and Tanzania.
Uploaded our photos and waited for supper.
There are many books around about the Maasi and the area so we looked through most of them.
Had a really good dinner with some soup, coconut, rice, and curry, chicken and vegetable vegetables. Fresh fruit for dessert.
I staued a bit longer by the fire to get Wi-Fi and then off to bed.
PL stayed to upload his footage and I went to the room.

81km/171m

Day 3 – Merreushi, Kenya to Tarakea, Tanzania

Up at 6:30am for 7 am breakfast. It was great with really good pancakes, eggs beans and sausage. Still instant coffee, but it’s decent.
Paid, said our goodbyes (or see you again soon), and then on the road at 7:45am. Sunny and warm today.
Pretty much uphill all day. Steady 3% grade with a good headline, so will be a bit of a workday.
Saw our first wildlife other than the Thompson Gazelle: Giraffes off in the distance!
Saw the kids going to school this morning.
About 20 K to the border all of a sudden I see a lot of agriculture: sunflowers, lots of tomatoes. And then all of a sudden, all the tucks and motorbikes on the road. Starting to see all the Safari Toyotas too.
Stopped for a couple of cold Fantas as it’s been a steady headwind.
About 17 K to go, stopped for water and to have a bite to eat. It’s about 30° but with the wind, it doesn’t feel like it.
Stopped at the bathrooms as PL’s stomach is still off.
Then stopped for some roasted corn with lime juice and salt. It was actually quite dry and not super good. I feel like it might be better in a second other spots.
Then stopped for some water and ginger ale.
A little bit further and then ended up at the Canyon Border. Guys were so nice, had some chats about FIFA and about our aggressive neighbors south of us…lol.
Cruised into Tanzania and then had a bit of a wait at the border. (A couple guys told me they loved me. I said thanks. PL got jealous…lol.)
Back in line to find out we need to get another Visa. Good thing we can apply on arrival.
Got our new visas for US$50 each and rolled across the border at 2:30pm into Tarakea.