Tues 25th Feb
Nairobi
The day started by remembering Dad on what would’ve been his 97th birthday. I wore my ‘Dad’ shirt (white with little blue flowers), which I always carry with me. I took a selfie with my ‘Happy birthday Dad & Gpa’ sign.
After breakfast I hung out at the front of the main house by the pool, waiting for my lift into town. There weren’t any guests around on that day and I was reminded what an amazing house it is.
Mid morning the 3 of us went to Naivasha, not before 3 or 4 giraffe crossed the road in front of us. So beautiful and graceful.
I was dropped off and got straight into the front seat of a matatu, but it was an hour before we left.
It took longer than usual, but went as far as OTC, so I prebooked my Naekana ticket for the next morning. I went looking for accommodation not knowing what to expect. I was still in the Luthuli Ave neighbourhood, and the first hotel I walked into was the Ash White. I was on the verge of walking out but thought 2,500bob (incl breakfast) for the location was pretty good. I checked into my nice room with hot water and went walkabout.
Now, I was still hoping that Mwangi would get in touch about what time to meet at the place he had suggested and on the day he chose. So, Theodora was right in that he didn’t contact me because I had said I wasn’t prepared to pay the high annual Residency fees , which meant there was no money in it for him. Disappointing, because I wanted to meet an old family friend…oh well.
I called into the New Stanley; apparently there was a 3rd generation thorn tree there, but I didn’t see it. I went to Java for a coffee. I drew out some money. I walked over to Ambassadeur for a couple, then to Ash White before darkness. They have a big dining room on the top floor with a bar and I had a very tasty chicken curry. Then to my comfortable which had wifi as well. Very good value.
26th Feb to 13th Mar
Taveta
Wed 26th Feb.
I’d booked on the 08:00 Naekana so I had plenty of time breakfast and to get to the Naekana stage. We didn’t leave until 09:00. There was the usual tea break at Mtito Andei, but the journey was again, very long…over 7 hours.
Farewell Taveta
So, my mind was 100% made up, that I was leaving Kenya before my eTA expired on the 18th March. Well, I had no choice. I started telling a few friends, and the reaction was…’Sorry to hear that’…’Safe journey’…’See you next time’. All very matter of fact, which made it easier for me.
I gave my notice to George, and just reminded him that I was paid up until the end of March. He never got back to me to say bye or thanks, but that was fine as Mercy was in touch with him.I worked out that I’d kept that room for just over 4 years.
What else ? I went to Mwangaza Grace a few more times for kiti moto. I gave Rose at Garden Park some business as she’d taken over the kitchen there. In fact on my very last night I went with John Mruttu to Garden Park for a delicious kiti moto.
I was always thinking that I would leave on the 15th, but I started to feel that I couldn’t wait to leave and I fixed the departure date to just one day earlier, on the 14th.
So, that was it…bye, bye Taveta.
Some highlights.
Tues 4th Mar
I rented a piki for 950Ksh and put in 300bob fuel in it. I’d earmarked this day to go to Voyager Ziwani with Joseph. We took the Kidong hill route, therefore the road Dad would’ve used to go to and fro between Ziwani and Taveta. We passed a big herd of camels whilst still on the farm. Then as we skirted the gamepark we saw lots of zebra, giraffe, and wildebeest.
At the tented camp there were quite a few hippos and crocs. We relaxed with our 500bob beer. I was enjoying the surroundings and taking lots of photos.
I was a bit worried about Joseph as he had low blood pressure and was on medication. There were times I thought he was driving a bit too fast. And, as he told me later, he was worried everytime I asked him to stop so I could video/take a pic, there might be lions around. I hadn’t thought of that..!!!
There was a herd of about 10 elephants on way back, so the day trip was even better than I expected/hoped.
We went back via Bosnia i.e. the Chala route. We stopped at Dad’s grave. The Chala road was very rough. I told Dad I wouldn’t cycle to see him again…too much like hard work. Boda next time.
We stopped at the tarmac at the place selling Tz beers. We got a call from the boda owner to say we were late returning the boda. We were about 10 minutes late I think !! I insisted on getting my 50bob change from the 1,000 note I had given him. He gave it to me, a little bit reluctantly.
Wed 5th Mar.
Mid morning start for a cycle to Grogan’s. Had been invited to lunch by Basil. I took the shortcut to Rekeke before Cessi and the ride took an hour and a quarter. There was just one very deep trench with lots of thick dust that I had difficulty crossing due to not being able to find my footing.
I waited at the gate for Basil to come from the shamba and give me a lift up the hill. I met Dutch Ingrid who had periodically managed Grogan’s. Fortunately I was wearing under pants so I could have a swim in the infinity pool with its magnificent views.
I chose chicken turmeric with rice from the menu. Barbara joined us for lunch as well. There was a Singh on the next table who looked at me knowingly; I vaguely recognised him. He turned out to be Pargat who knew Dad and who worked with Evan many years ago on the mobile decorticators.
After lunch Basil, myself, Pargat and a guy called Peter Craft (who knew Peter Stone well from rallying days), went down to the sisal factory. Strangely emotional for me to see close up the machine that was a huge part of my growing up. And to think, how many hundreds of hours Dad would’ve stood by a decorticator. The machine did in fact process i.e. strip the bark/skin off some sisal leaves to produce some of the pale/yellowey fibre; I think they were testing the machinery. Fun to watch.
I put my bike in the back of Peter C’s car and he kindly dropped me off at the Cessi junction. I cycled from there to the house selling Tz beers. On my way to Taveta, but before the Mahoo church, my chain snapped so I had to push/walk the last 30 minutes. That was fine.
Around the 6th & 7th of March I was contacted by Collins in Rwanda to say he’d been in a vehicle accident around the 25th Jan and he was still recovering from his injuries and could I send him some money. It was serious, as there were about 30 fatalities, so he was lucky to be alive.
At first he asked for 100Usd…hmmm!!
That figure went down and down, and after we’d clarified the surname and christian names on his ID, I sent him 1,800Ksh or 11Gbp by Western Union . He appeared to be satisfied with that
Sat 8th Mar.
As part of putting my time to good use, I decided to cycle to ElDoro. I’d heard the road was well graded these days and that they’d started laying tarmac. After putting air in my tyres I set off.
Yes, the road was graded. No sign of tarmac, and that was because they started from ElDoro and going to Taveta. They had completed about a third of the distance.
At the ElDoro junction I stopped for a tea; I figured I’d be doing enough cycling. The young girl tried to sting me for 40bob, but I rebuked her and gave her 20bob…the correct price..!! Just short of reaching Taveta I stopped at The Place for a rehydrating beer.
On Sun 9th, Lucy was having a 1st birthday party for her son. I bought the birthday cake which was prepared at the Bakery. I also gave her nephew money to go to Kibanda Hasara, just over the border, to buy 2 big bottles of Konyagi. I left the party before all the food was served, but not before I’d had my share of Konyagi!!, as I’d already agreed to meet John at Rockland.