Fri 4th…I left early from Bustani apt to catch a matatu from mwembe tayari. Caught the Al-Wahim, but they’re not as good as Naekana. The journey was fine…5.5 hours. Saw some giraffe. Heard recently that a couple of days later on that same stretch of road- between Maktau and Tvt a speeding car hit a giraffe…lady passenger and giraffe died and the car driver is in a critical condition in hospital.
On arrival in Tvt I had a tea at friend wamgoi’s place. Saw David mahindi. Caught up with Mercy, and collected the keys to my room. The following day I borrowed a mop and cleaned the floor; there wasn’t too much dust after 3 months away.
The days were spent mainly catching up with friends. Mbege with Joseph on Sunday, and treated him to kiti moto in town. I borrowed a bicycle for a couple of days. First trial was to cycle to a new place…only a couple of kms out of town…where I discovered a huge swimming pool. So that’s the latest addition/attraction…just bandas for eating and drinking, plus the pool. Hard work on the bike even for that short distance and I was in 2 minds about using it to get to Chala the next day.
8th. I like a challenge and I went for it. I think it took me an hour longer than it should’ve done…but I did stop for tea and mandazi. The purpose of going to Chala was to check on Dad’s grave and to plant half a dozen trees in his memory. 2 of the trees are mine specifically. I left Mercy to get back on a boda while I cycled. The bike was awful, but I made it. Stopped in Darajani at Black and White for a couple of tuskers. It was a very hot day !
Wed…went to Tvt hospital for a PCR covid test to enable me to cross the border into TZ. Only to find that due to Govt cuts , that service was provided anymore. Thurs….I caught the earliest matatu to Mombasa . It was the 06:00 but we didn’t leave until 07:30…..slight concern on my part as needed to be at the mombasa by 14:00. No delays, so reached Msa before 13:00. Checked in to Hermes Htl where I stayed in Nov and went by tuk tuk to the hospital. Very efficient service for 7,000ksh (about 50pds)…a bit expensive but no choice.
A tea somewhere. A shower at the hotel. A visit to Fantasy bar. Topping off the day with a nice chicken curry at Bella Vista. Although originally told results could be collected at 10:00, I was also told they would be ready at 08:00. I went for the earlier of course, then back to mwembe tayari and by 09:30 I was on my way back to Tvt. Oh, and the result of the test was Neg…phew.
So my trip to TZ for Sat 12th was on course. Met Kristin for drinks in the late afternoon. Met a friend at Market View where I had a plate of chips for dinner. No need to be up particularly early as I was only going a few kms up the road and was to stay in Holili for a couple of days. Happy that the flying trip to Msa worked out so well in the end.