Tues 26th
On top of everything else, the tokens ran out at 05:00; fortunately I was awake because I was leaving for the SGR, but was annoyed at having to pack in the heat and dark…I used my phone torches.

In a nutshell, the taxi was late, but actually he had forgotten to call me and went without me. I flagged down a tuk tuk and half heartedly negotiated a price. The taxi was 600 while the tuk wanted 800. I told him to put his foot down !!  I didn’t look at the time in case it stressed me out. All was well, after a fuel stop we arrived at 07:30, and after the sniffer dogs and xray security, I was in plenty of time to get my hard copy ticket and get into my seat in coach 10 for the 08:00 departure.

A comfortable 6 hrs and 10 mins journey.  Only saw 4 elephants in the distance. I caught the 50bob Commuter train to the Central railway station. Walked up Moi Ave and Tom Mboya St to Sunway Htl. Greeted the receptionist and she greeted me, but I was told  they didn’t have hotel rooms anymore. Phoned Mark up the road at Kahama Htl and asked him to book a room for me. A 20 minute walk to Kahama where Mark had booked through booking.com for only just over 1,600bob.
It was nice to spend the early evening with him ; I had sausages and chips for dinner then had an early night. Mark was expecting a friend and then leaving the hotel around midnight for his flight to UK via Cairo.

Wed 27th.
I didn’t wake up too early as I was only heading to Naivasha. I left Kahama after 08:00. It was a half hour walk to the OTC matatu stage. I paid my 250bob ( prices haven’t changed in a long time), and waited over an hour before the matatu filled up and we were able to leave.

Nice views over the Rift Valley from the top escarpment road. Only an hour and three quarters…good going. I popped into Grapes for a coffee; I asked for a second sachet as the coffee was so weak with just one sachet. Bought beers from Naivas. The matatu to Matteo’s wasn’t filling up after an hour, so Peter kindly came into Naivasha to pick me up.

A quiet afternoon and evening as Fleur and Andy and all their guests were arriving on the next day. Long chat with Theodora. My loft room was baking hot until the temperature dropped in the evening. I started on my hayfever tablets but they didn’t seem to do much good; was still badly affected by the cat fur. And my eyes were still itchy and uncomfortable, but not painful anymore. Dinner, chatting, relaxing.

Thurs 28th.
I had a terrible nights sleep, not helped by the dogs barking a lot. I went with Theodora to Karagita; she needed to buy fruit and vegs and I needed a top up of Balozi…2 x 6 packs…as my contribution to the ‘party’. From there to the Farm shop where I bought a big bag of crisps and took pics of some giraffes the othe side of the hedge…just a few metres away. After a coffee at Matteo’s it was back to the estate.
Everyone started arriving. There were 3 couples I had met at New Year a few years ago. A very pleasant afternoon and evening. We sat and drank and chatted by the pool. I wore my sunglasses all day as my eyes were still sore. Dinner was mince and rice I think; my appetite wasn’t huge, and I’d already snacked at lunchtime.

Fri 29th.
It was the first night I slept with one of my leftover covid face masks as some protection from the cat fur. And my eyes were slightly less itchy, so a better night’s sleep. After a light breakfast the main reason for being in Naivasha began to take shape.
The gate to Kedong Ranch is at the bottom of the garden virtually. Less than a 10 minute drive and we were in position for the Safari Rally. Gazebos, tables and chairs were set up. Lots of food had been prepared. We were there at 08:30, about 2 hours before the first car was due to come through.  It was interesting watching the whole operation…helicopters overhead, cars checking the route, ’00’ car indicating a certain time before the start, the ‘0’ car indicating the 1st Rally car was due next.

The cars came through at about 3 minute intervals. Lots of revving noise, big clouds of dust; I got smothered a couple of times and just hoped my already sore eyes wouldn’t suffer too much.
After a snack lunch a few of us went back to the plot. The next stage wasn’t starting for another 4 hours and I decided not to go back the view point, but to give my eyes a rest. The next stage was actually a repeat of the morning stage. I chose to take a 10 minute walk from the house to a sharp bend near the start of the route. As a first timer to the Rally, it was all very exciting.

That was it. Back to the house for drinks and chats and a nice dinner. Peter and I watched a film at his place; an hour and a half thriller. I don’t enjoy the really long films…say 2 or 2 and a half hours. There’s a lot of building going on next door where there is also loud music in the evening, but that was turned off around 10pm.

Sat 30th.
A better night’s sleep; wearing the face mask helped. I think it rained in the night. A relaxing day going back and forth between the houses. With almost everyone drinking so much alcohol it was difficult to not get carried away myself. But the itchy eyes took away much of the desire; however I did have 2 large shots of tequila on top of my Balozis.
We had a special bbq dinner. Andy lit his mini moke bbq and proceeded to cook beautifully tasty selection of sausages, chicken and fillet steak. I didn’t have much in the way of salads or potatoes but focused on the meat treat.
I wasn’t sure if I was leaving on Sunday or Monday but when Rory Green said he was leaving for Limuru on Sunday, I asked for a lift. And so to bed with lots of alcohol inside me.

Sun 31st.
An okay night’s sleep, but was pleased to be leaving on Sunday. The morning was spent chilling and after 11:00 I headed off with Rory. An interesting/exciting trip up the lower escarpment road in a 3.6litre engine car being driven by an ex Safari Rally driver. The acceleration was incredible, and made getting passed lorries and matatus very easy..!!
I was dropped off near the Limuru junction. Waited 20 minutes for the matatu to fill up. It took about 30 minutes to get into Nairobi city. I’d booked a room at the Kahama Htl through booking.com and although we went right passed it, I had to go into the centre to get more money and put some on mpesa in order to pay the hotel. I had a coffee at Java then went to Kahama to check in. Got a better room towards the back overlooking the car park, so much more quiet.
I walked to the OTC stage and booked my Taveta ticket (1,200) for 09:00 on Monday. I then walked to Ambassadeur Htl for 2 beers and to watch a Premier league match. At 6:30pm I headed back to Kahama before darkness, stopping for a kebab along the way. The guy said I was cunning…didn’t understand why, because he said the cost was 60bob and I gave him exactly 60bob.

At the hotel I had one beer whilst watching the early evening football match. I was irritated by the waiter taking his time to get my 150bob change. When he asked if I could wait until the next morning, I got angry and demanded my change; I wasn’t falling for that ploy of hoping I would forget by the next morning. The shower was disappointing…no hot water and what came out was a dribble. Otherwise the room was comfortable and I had plenty of time in the morning to walk to the Taveta matatu.