March 3 Kenya
We arrived at the border and quickly got our exit stamp on the Ethiopian side and then went down the road to the Kenyan border control offices – where we were only charged $25 rather then the $50 we had thought to get our passports stamped with our entrance visa for Kenya. So that was a pleasant surprise. The whole process only took minutes and was quick and painless – they actually had computers here!!
I would have liked to have stayed in the area a little longer and spend my remaining birr but everyone was keen to carry on to camp. As Scott said the best way to treat our saddle sores was to remove our bike shorts as soon as possible. I did let them go ahead when I saw a bank though – where I unsuccessfully tried to get some money out of the ATM. I would need to try with my other card which was in my bag at camp so I carried on – a guy on a motorbike came towards me on my side of the rod shouting “Wrong way, wrong way”. But I thought “No this is definitely the right way – I can even see the flagging tape up ahead!”, before I realized he meant I was riding on the wrong side of the road!! OK – that might take a little getting used to - in Kenya we drive/ride on the left hand side of the road (like England of course!!!)
At camp I found a good spot under a large tree to pitch my tent and waited for all the guys to arrive to get ready to go into town.
Headed off to town to find some food – after numerous attempts in various buildings I suggested we try that “big, posh “ building down the road. There was a restaurant in the back with other TDA riders already there. There was not much choice – beef stew with a type of rectangular stodge – potato/rice/bread? – not sure how to describe it but it was very filling!! We wandered back through the village, bought some snacks and ended up at one of the original places we had seen where you could buy beer and meat! A group before us had waited an hour for their order. After 45 minutes wait we were told the chicken we ordered did not exist so we returned to camp. We decided they probably had to buy their meat on demand to order and that’s why everything took so long!!
Back at camp it was time to change the tyres as we are back off road again tomorrow. Alice came over to ask our advice about which tyres she should use – she has some fat knobbly ones and some skinnier but stronger ones so I jokingly said “both”. Actually Steve, Scott and myself had had this conversation earlier – would it be possible to put two tyres on together on one rim? So we decided to try it and actually managed to get both tyres on. So Alice has 1 tube and 2 tyres – so together they should be pretty good for guarding against flats!! Hopefully it will work for her – I am not sure how she will cope in getting the tyre off if she does get a flat though! We shall see how it works!!
Found out that the cook James has been taken to hospital with suspected malaria! Dinner was therefore a little late – however when ready it was absolutely gorgeous! Burritos with beans, mango salsa, rice and eggs – so good!! Especially the mango salsa!! After that good feed I am ready for bed.
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